$ a C T. V. of the New Creature. °3s' leífon thou ac n(t real n, to fee thou mutt pray anew,hear anew , make an uniyexf change in thy life. a, Thou art therather to make the more diligent enquiry here , becaufe of all 3. vanities that is the foateft which is in religion. If it be found that thouhaft thus . many years come toChurch in vain,not laid good foundarions,and rightprineiplesi this is the molt dangerous vanityofall : for to take painsin vain about tempprall things, is but anoutward momentary lots; but w pray in vain, to hear in vain, is ä !primal andeternal lofs : Its an happinefs for a traveller toknow betimes that he is out of theway; but ifhe fhould travel the whole day inunfeafonable (harpwea- ther, and dangerous rodes, and thenat night be cold he is clear out of the way, What fad tydings would it be tohim ? And thusit is here : if a man fhouldlive for- ty or threeleore years in many fad exerdfes, and outward miferies , and when he comes to dye be truly told, Oh fir, you are quite oit of theway to heaven,you have been travelling to hell this many years a Howmutt he cry out, Oh whydid not I thinkof this before?Why did Inot know it before? 4. Let not the confederation oftoting allthat is pact fo much deject thee , asto quicken thee up to be the more diligent for the future c As the Tcavalier goeth the fatter when he knoweth he hathbeen out of the way ; thus the Apoftle, redeem the time , Ephef, 3. Thoumutt make upall thy former loft duties, by future fervency , diligence, and fruitfulnefs: fay, OhLord, it troubles me that l loved thee fo late, that itwas fo late ere I coulddo any duty after a fpiritual godly manner; but now I (hall preb forward after the mark, I will labour to do much in a little time : Oh then think, Ifall my former timebath been loft,I have the greatercaufe tobe up and tobe doing. And as for the Third pretended abfurdity , ?kaa to apeffionour former condition, o61,í{, or tofuppofe it naught, wouldplunge ue into de/fair : to that there arc (everal An- fwers. r. lt argueth ignorance of the breadth, and depth of Original corruption to Avfwe argue fo : Thou forgette(t inwhat (sate thou art born , and how unclean thou art bynatural propagation; otherwife if this wereacknowledged, thou would(teafily . fee that there is a neceftity of being born again: What, thouwert not born with the image of Godupon thy foul, Thouwert notborn a Cbilde ofGrace, but of, wrath : nflr this corroptiblebody muff put on interruption, ere it can de made glorious, fo this defiled foul mutt put on purity ere it can be made happy in hea- ven. So that there is a neceffìty upon thee to conclude, That thou art wholly in fin , and Chet up under wrath ; thou muff fee thou art Linden : And front hence it is that mendefirenot more this I:wCreature : they think their old life will farye. They perceivenot the Raines that are on their foals,and by this means reff cemented, thoughin an undone eflate. a. Thouwho artafraid of delfiairing, falldefsut?dnaught inthee, confider that aà it i, neceffary thoufhaoldff despair and have no hope or flay in thyfelf, or any :hinge thou dolt. For thole Maden and burthened ones,whoare invited to come to Chrift, Mat. r r.. can find no rat or cafein .themfelves till they come ro him : Infomuch that none are further off from grace and mercy,then thofewho jultifie themfelves as the Pharifees did. l t is erne, through the fenfe of fin tovdefpair of ate grace of Chrift offered,and tonegleht that falvation,is a crimfon fin,and immediately oppo- frte CO theGofpel ; but to defpair ofour felves,andto have no hope in what wedo, isa neceffary qualífication,and hereby we giveglory toGod;andtherefore ifwe did defpairmore inour felves, our condition would be leffe defperate : And this is the condemnation of men , that they prefume in the mercy of God , and Ideffe themfelves in their hearts, when yet- there is but a [hep between them and hell. 3. It it better defpairinghere with hopes, thende/ airing hereafter without any,oho 3e haftground ofcomfart, We hadbetterknow the worthhbere, while it may be prevented, then hereafter, when it will be in vain, Would not,everyone damned ire
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