Sá c r. V II. Of the Hearts Efîabli]hidvent l><j Grdet. agencies, and a pleafant thief, for Co indeed it is. The Pharifees werenót godly,` though in prayers and alines often, becaufe thefe things were not done toGod, but forhumane applaufe : This is the Pirate, that many times robbeth us of our rich Merchandife, our fpirituall traffique With God : Infomuchthat a man maybe ferving himfelfandhis corruptends, when to theworld he feemeth to beletting Of God. As in religious aCtions, fo even inhumane and civili aiona, the glory of God is the aíme propounded ; what the Apoflle would have fervants doe, not to eye their Matter, but todoe it as unto Chrift ; the fame is required of us in all our civili imployments : Art thouaMagillrate? Are thy imploymentsincivillcon& derations ? confider not men, regard not merit; but as he which shoots that he may hit the mark;cakes a little time to unite his force, and fixhis aime ; todoe thou gather thy affc Lions together, and fet thy fclfon purpofc to remember,that this is for God, and to God. Thou dcfirea to look further than humane Ar- guments would fuggefl ; this one Scripture difcovers few men have grace : for take them in religious Duties,there Cuflome,Education,orPride, are theprinciples that let them on work, or in their civili imployments, and then felf-advantage, earthly greatneffe, temporal' preferments are the Fountain to their fireams; But a gracious man is filled with a divine Spirit, over- looking thofe inferiour refpeffs, his end being fpirituall, and fo raifed above all earthly temptations; this being the proper workof grace, to put a man into fuch a difpofition, as that:he may have communion with, and enjoyment of God; for as aBeati is no wayes fit for any commerce with a man, till he be made a man ; fo a man while without grace, hath;no difpofition, or qualification in him whereby he may draw nigh to God. Secondly, "efi gracioae man hash an high efeem and prize of the things of grace. The Gofpel is the Gofpel of grace, ei4tls zo. 24. The Word is the Word of grace, Alls 14, g. God is the God ofgrace, a Pre. a, a r. The Ordinances are means of Grace, Rom. 3. 24. Juflification and Salvation are the effects of Grace, 6phef z, y. Nowa manof gracedothmightily defire theft things ofgrace; and it is anevident argument of one without grace, when he bath no dear totem, no precious delightin thefe fpiritual things. When Davidmakes fo many fweet ra- vifhing expreffions about God beinghis Portion, his inheritance, all in heaven and earth co him ; whenhe dothfo admire the Ordinances, and the wotfsipof God. What are theta but the honeyof a fweet Bee, the manifellacions of a gracious fpirit ? So chore divine ftrains of maul, Eph% -t; a Midi, admiring the grace of God in fpirituall mercies, do tell all, what a gracious heart Paul hash within, that canadore filch priviledges.Whereas now come to anunregenerate man, he can no more etteem thefe things than the Swine doth Pearl, or fweet Flowers. The man in the - Parable when he had found this Pearl, he fold allhe had to be owner of it r And thus it is with a godly man, when once he lath tailed of thepower of grace,he loveshis tuns no mure, his fins no more : As when a man bath tatted He- nry, all other things feemunfavoury ; thus after he is godly, all his former wick- ed and worldly wayes teem likeGarlick and Onions to this heavenly Manna; hour devoid thenofall grace doe men generally demonflrate themlelves? where is their high efleemof Godand Ordinances, of all fpirituall priviledges? Alas, Preach of thete things, and they fay, Who will thew ús fome ocher good thing? Thus to the diflemperate palate of a finfull man , the fweeteff objects give no reliflaat all. Thirdly, Its afareCharaíler ofgrace to make a man hunger and tbirflHill af- termoredegrees ofgrace. Therefore the godly man is deferibed by feeking, Rom, z. g. by deliring, Neb. r. u t. by hungring and thiriling, Math. 5. 6. becaufe his foul isnever facisfied in the way of grace, buthe hath an holy dropfe on him, ,the more he drinks of thiswater the more he thirftethafter it : Objefts that are plea- ting to fenfe, they glut the Faculty at lati; fo that an honey-combis fometimes loa- thed; but fpiritual.objeftsare fo farre from burtheningthe heart, and casting a dif- V u damn
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