$ E c æ.VIli. The WIpre l,PfhedandSanitifled 37t uponthe mooprofligate finners, leavingothers to their ownprideand conceited righteoufnefs,hereby they are confounded andafhamed : Thusit was difcovered by our Saviour, he tellsthe Pharifees, That thepublicans andharlots [Gouldgo into the kingdomof heaven beforethem; and, He came not to callfilch righteous as they mere, but finners to repentance, Mat.9.13. There are nonecommonly further off true grace, then thofe who pleafe themfelves with theconceit of their own goodnefs and nghteoufnefs. The emptieft ear of corn growes up higheft, and holds its head love others ; but thofe who have true grace, are deeply fenfi- bleof their owninf'ffïciency and imperfedions; their righteoufnefs, is to be- wail their own nrlrighteoufnefs: It falls out therefore, that there is fometimes more hope of a grofs firmer, then a civilized Pharifee for the one is fooner convinced, his confcience is eafierawakened ; but the other being already falfe- ly perfwaded of his own worth, can hardly be changed: Vie morbus vixeff fanabilù qui fanitatcm imitatur, That difeafe which is likehealth,is hardly cured ; and thus a man living a life like godlinefs, when it is not fo indeed, is feldom truly reformed. Fourthly, God will havefome of theWorjPof men fometimes converted, that the Minrflers of God, Who arefometimes calf uponfuch apeople, might not foin without d, hope, nor preachwithout hope: Even a wildernefs may become a pleafant river, even a Mary Magdalene, a Publican, may be converted bypreaching; What thenmay not theMinitlers of God expe&? though their foul (asDavid faith) lyeth down among Lyons : We may not always fay, Wo be to its, becaufe We live in the tents of Kedar, for God may make that like 7ernfalem. A place where nothingbut bryars and thorns cameup, may be made a pleafant garden : Chrift told hisDifciples, Hefentthemlike/beepamong[Wolves,Mat.ro.16. and yet theft fheepmade many wolves fheep like themfelves: Though therefòre wecatch no- thing, when wecaft our nets ; yea, though we catch fcorpions initead of fifhesi yet thefe fcorpionsmay be made fifties : With Gadall things arepollible, faithout Savior, Mat.19.a6.fpeaking of this very thing, toconvert men, which is to make a Camel go through the eyeof a needle: Though therefore humane realots may tell a man, there is no fuccefs tobe expel ed,no good tobe done, becaufe a peo- ple foand fo vicious ; yet we muff not regard the dead womb, but the power of God: Its he that opens the barren Womb, and makes thofe that were fruitier, tobring forth. Fifthly, ThereforeGodWill have form of thefeBeelzebub finners converted, that fo grace maybe acknowledged to be a real, manifeff, powerful Work, and that in the 4a eyes of all theWorld: Menare prone to judge godlinefs, nothing but the Melan- choly, and thetender conffitution of fome mens bodies, or their black imagina- tions or fancies which arife within; but now when fuch, who have been fo long, fo continual in evil and ungodly ways, they fhall love and delight in what they once loathed : Thismakes godlinefs a palpable vifible thing : When Paul a blafphemer, a curfed'oppofer of theways of Chrift, is converted, and fete up that which he once pulled down, this makes all men fee Gods Grace is not a notion, but a real livelywork upon a man. That as the whole world won- dered, when they lawChrift work Inch palpable miracles, making theblinde to fee, thedeafto hear, thedead torife, they concluded he wasGod ; here could be no impofture or deceit,the things were fo manifeft : Thus when God calls force wicked men, and makes them forfake all thepleafures and profits, leave the cotton: receipt immediately, deny their parents,friends, andall that might work upon natural affeEtions all the prophaneand carnal company to whom their fouls was once glowed ; this muttmake every man fay, Here is more then no- tions, here isa real fire. ThePoets taught much of Circe's cup, which turned men into beafts, but here is a change of beafts intomen, yea into Angels; and we may fay, ThisWorkof theLord as marvellous in our eyes. of incotwagement tothefptritsalhusbandman, though hefoovevenupots the hardeftt Bb a rock,
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