Burgess - Houston-Packer Collection BT715 .B85 1652

290 OfGalsworkmdn/hip. s E c wholly iadiffpofed, to bring forthfruit,by that Wordof command andbleifing upon it whenhe laid, Let the earth king forthgraf feand fruit.Even thin ofdiforder1,wiekd andmefè indiOofdmen to anygodly.aElions, he dothby hisgrace makeau prepared and fittedto everygeodwor1, Now that it might wholly appear tobeof GodsMelling and power meerly, that the earth did bring forth fruit and graule, obferve Gods Providence herein; Forhe gives this command to the earth, before .he had made a Sun, andbefore therewas any rain, fo that all mull acknowledge this feuitfull and germinativepower in the earth tobe meetlyofGod.Therewasno moreat firft M theearth to bear fruit, than in any ¡tones or dry wood. Even fuch'an admirable workof God is this fpirituallchange,which he makes upon men. For thole-who formerly were enemies, and adverfaries unto all godlineffe,they become Men and delighters in it. Oh howneceffary and comfortable is it to preachof this migtítÿ workofGod ? forhereby we hope, that God maycreate form Inchauditors, and make tohimfelf a holy and godly people out ofxhofe who beforewere prophane and ungodly. Obferv. Such it ahegreatandmightyworst, of Cod, thathe makes thole, who where altoge- That God in ther unfitand averlefrom what isgodly and holy, to imbrace and delight in it. Three this work[ çodis faidto be able to railsup Children to Abraham out of Pones. makes thole that are unfit Every time thou fed} an ignorant prophaneman madea believer and holy, then and averfe to is a very (tone made e4brahamr childe ; every time you behold a wicked holineCs,to im- and wretched firmer , praying , humbling himfelfe , and reforming his brace andde- life, you may then wonder and fay ; Behold how God makes Grapes to grow of light in it. Thorns, andFigs on Thifiles ; when Godmakes Matthew a Publican to leave his gainful' fines, and to follow him; whép he caufeth Mary Magdalen to bewails and forfakeher former lulls, God doth as he did at firft Creation out ofa confufed and unformed heap, make a glorious world. Therefore the Apofile ufeth that expreftion, God whoworketh lightout ofdarkneffe, a Cor.4,6. implying that Goddid not once only at the Creation, work light of darknelfe, but ßi11 he doch it daily. Even asoften as he makes the Word of God to enter into mens hearts. So that wemay fayeven of the wont and prophanelt of people , as the Prophet did to God, when God asked him, Can theft dry banes live ? Exek.37.3 So, Can fuck apeople,fofiupid,fo careleffe, fo rebellious, be prepared to every goodwork ? OLord thou knoweft 1 that is, OLord, itsin thy power, thoucanft do whatfoeverthou*aka I ACamel with hisbig bunch on hisback hath no di- fpolition or fitnefle to enter a needles eye, yet God can make it do fo. Though we deny there is any tranfubflantiation, God cannot (and Patentifmrnonpoteff) or rather one fubfiancecannot be changed into another, and they retain their pro- perdimenfions and qualities ; Yet inevery converfion ofa tanner, there is a fout- ttanfmuration in ecfpeft of the qualities thereof, darknelfe is made light, gall is made honey. This glorious conquell over menshearts is prophefied of as the great glory of Chrilis Kingdom, Ifa. r r.6. TheWolfand the LambAd lie down toge- ther, &c. That curled enmity (hall be removed, when God (hall take away the poifonous nature ofevil men. Thus Ifai.as,.r8. The deaf/hall hear, and the blinde (ballfee, and verf 24. They that erred in .f iris andmurmured 'hall learn DoElrine, who moreunlikely tohear then refraftoryand rebellious men? yettheft (hall un- derhand. ThePoint ere- To explain this Doftrine, let us view the truthofit in particulars. As plained inthefe Fitti, Gad in thee Fÿiritual change makes a people unfit, unpolifhed, and every particulars. Wayei indi.fjofed,finable, and enclining to What is holy. Every man naturally lies likea rude (tone in the quarry, it moil be polifhed and come under much fawing andcutting ereit can be put into the building. Hence an upright heart fometimes is called by a word that fignifieth a poliJhedheart, the roughnefie and ruggedneffe of it is taken away. Thus the work of renovation is expreffed by taking away an heart of (tone, and giving anheart offiefh. Take a Lone andyou canmake no imprellionuponit, whereas fie(la is pliable and tender. Now this ruggedne(fe and

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