Burgess - Houston-Packer Collection BT715 .B85 1652

Sa c z. V Ii. Of the Hearts 0A6lifhment6y Graie: 315 Thatwilt keephim inperfectpeace, whole winde isftayed on thee, Ifa.a6, 3. therefore theApoftle faith, Above, all take the Jhield of faith; above all graces, nourifh and quicken faith. .Thè Scripture faith unbelief, diffidence and diftruff, dothmake a man £ °' , to be carried up and down like a Meteor,toAsd no tobe like a man, where two ways are,andknoweth not what todo, Math. 14.31 "and dlce vs.9nú Rom.4.2o. Now to both there, faith is prefcribed as the ónely remedy that Itrengthens the foul ; give me a man with found faith in the Do- Efrine of Chrift, and a firong faith in thepromifes, and this man will [land like a rock in the fea, when all errors and fins will be dallied in pieces. Vfe a. Isgrace theonely £etler of the heart? then marvel not if men with- out grace, be carried up and down 'as fo much thif le"down and chaff whenthe wind bloweth, that they change according to all occafions, felf-intereft, par- ticular profits, that they have as many colours as the Peacocks tails. Alas, here is no foundation laid, he is a manwithout a bottom, he is a cloud without wa- ter'he is a Land-floodwithout afountain ; he is a Ciftern, onelyhavingwhat is outwardly put into him, there do not rivers of living water flow froth his belly ; onely rooted grace, onely e[lablifhing grace will avail a man : This is the oyl: ptsfeffion, parts and outward duties are but the Lamps. Take the fweetefl'flowers from theroot, it dyeth prefently ; pull off the fruitfulleft branch from the flock,it withers prefently; and all thy glorious partsand abilities with, out this foundation of Grace will quickly dye. Vfe a. To humble the heft of Gods children, for how muchWeaknefs, dif- fidence, inconftancy, hypocrifie and pufillanimity is in them ? Ohif thy heart' were always eftablifhed and confirmed bygrace,' then whit Were able to,hurt thee ; to difcourage a Chriflian inthe power of his grace, is like Nosh in his Ark, a lieaft in his Den, a Dove in the Rock, fare and fate enough : Oh thou therefore who artfofubjea to convrilfion fits in Chrillianity; fubjelt to fwoons and qualms ; think notthat riches, honors, greatnefs, can be a ftafffure enough to lie on, it mutt beonely Chrifl received and dwelling inourhearts by grace; allfin in thee is thy weaknefs, thy imbecillity ; thou fhouldff be afhamedthou haft [hewed thy felt nomore like one that is born of God. The Romans had a Temple dedicated to Fortitude; they, made that a Goddefs, fo that theHea- thenHiftorian obferved, that was deftroyed before Rome was taken (that is his fuperflitious Idolatry) but we Chriftians have.ftrength in God; Be Throng in the power of his might, whichuffronger then all. tOittttalAttsitSibUtAttsAAAIWtit its Sfa S,eitIV;

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