288 ofGods Workman(hip. S a e r. VI. inthe wayof a general Providence, and fo man as a Creature meetly is looked unto, as theBeans ofthe field, and the Fowls of the air, only in a more noble Degree, becaufe he is more noble Creature : but now Gods dealing to his New Creatures, is in a way of Predeffination, and a Covenant of Grace fo that even thevery outward Mercies that the New Creature barb, come from a fweeter and more comfortable fpring, then they doe to a meer man; for thy very Food,Health,Raiment,and all thydaily outward Mercies, they are the fruit of Eleétion, notofgeneral Providence, and fo they come from the fame Love, which predeftinated thee toglory, anddoth ju(lifie thy person : Oh what a ravifhing confideration is this to everyNew Creature ! How may he triumph with Paul, Who 'hall lay any thing to the charge ofGods Elea. ? That which is but Providence to others is Predeffination to thee. IIf. A third Difference is, In regard of the Comforts , and fupports Godgives to the New Creature, above thofe to the Old Creature. God giveth to man as a man, many outward humane Comforts, otherwife even to live would be an Hell ; Infomuch that all life is for fome Delight and Comfort. Thus God bath put into all mens hearts fome Delight and Comfort, as a Cordial! against thofe many miferies they are to grapple with in this world. Hence force men take Comfort in one thing, force in another, according to their se- veral inclinations ; and when their humane Comforts are taken away, then their hearts break,and theyhave no more content intheir lives. Thus God path alto provided admirable and wonderful Comforts and Supports forthisNewCrea- ture, They rejoyce With joy unipeakgbleand full ofglory, and that in the midff of all outward miferies, when all humane Comforts fail, Rom. s. r. This is like force Herb that will be green and fresh in the midst of Winter, when all other are dead or withered : Oh then the folly of thofe who cannot part with their pleafures of finne, they think they (hall part with all their joy then, and never have acomfortable day more. Alas, thou never haft true folid joy, till thou leave thofefinful pleafures,as the Ifraeliteohad not Manna, till the ,(Egyptian Garlickwas gone.Other differences might be menrioned,but because this is a fruitful pointin the useof it, I come to thepraElical improvement of it. 7Jje r. And fir!, Are thofe who are converted Gods Workmanfhip, the choice and excellent worke of his hands? then let us Examine our feints, Whole Workes are thofe We do ? Are thy Lies thy Oathes, thy Lulls Gods Work- manfhip ? Are thefe the good workes God hath ordained thee to walk in? Oh, if thou pretendeft to be Gods Workmanship, why are there fo many works of Sinne and Satan in thy life ? It is ffrange that men doe not com- mune with their owne hearts, and confidertheir lives no more. Where is their Faith? And why is their Conscience fo alleep 7 for doe they not eafily fee themselves theDevils Workmanship, and are they not of him as their father? Ohdo not think thatany greatneffe or floutnefle of flomack will bear thee out against God 1 When God at thedayof Judgmentfhall summon thee to hisTri- bunal, and ask,Whole workman(hip art thou ? Whose works haft thou done? Wilt thou notbe prefently confounded before God and the whole world, not knowingwhat to fay or do 2 Vfè a. Are the people ofGod hisworkmanship? then here is ground for manycom- fortable confiderations. As I, Firs!, Thougroanefi underthe defeet ofgrace, thou mournelt for thy imper- feft Faith, imperfe& Love, imperfe& heavenly- mindedneffe. Oh confider thou art Gods Workmanfhip, and he will make all perfeft at last, never fear that finne,Satan or the worldcan deftroy thework ofGod ; Christ came to de- [troy theworks of the flesh, and the Devil; The Devil cannot defiroy the works of Chrift, Christ did cast out Devils from men, but the Devils cannot cast Chrift out ofthe heart. Ohthen benot cast down and inordinately deje& ed
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