Burgess - Houston-Packer Collection BT715 .B85 1652

S a c T. VAT. TheGodly are l3Tdfhcd ardSaisaifl,d. 3$ of Lambs , yea the children of theirbody werenot fo acceptable , as if they had done juftly,and walked humbly withGod : Obedience is a neceffary fruit of landi- 'fication. Thirdly , Thole that arefan£lified delight in the rule ofall thofe meant and e.zcerci;. 3. Delight ira lit whichencreafe fara5 ification. The Godly are defcribed by hungring, and thin- Orliarnees: fling, and feeking, and fo they can never have enough of holincffe : Now the prea- chingofthe word is one principalinftrument of fandification, Sanfl :fie then, by thy troth , thy word it truth, John ay. It is an argument thou haft not this fand¢fi- cation upon thyaffdions, when thou haft no high efteem,or price of the holyOr- dinances ; when this hony-combe is loathfom to thy flomack , foil of filthy Lulls TheGodly are to call theSabbaths , a delight: and the word is aggravated under all manner ofexcellencies byDavidsgracious heart ; and for this end, becaufe it haeh fpiritual and favory effeds : So then ifthou wouìdeft know the evidences of thy fandification , and judge thereby, Examine how thou art affected to the means ofgrace ? Do they become welcome and precious to the? Doll thou cry out like thole in the transfiguration , It idgood to be here ? Is it as meat and drink unto thee ? Then thou maylt comfortably rejoyce in this , That God bathgiven thee a fandified heart , to love the word of God , and the means of Grace; and that becaufe ofthepowerful operations thereby, cannot be but by a (pint grecioufly wrought upon. Fourthly ,Thofe thatare fantlified, are'diligent ?apreparingandfeting thetnfelvet P.epseution firthe holy datie, theyareconverfant in. Thusco (andifier was to fet a man apart foeduties. for the fpiritual imployment he was called unto. And herein is a great difovery ofthe TruthofGracePeen; whenmen do not overly,and cuflomarily perforas ho- ly Duties , but they doHoc agere, as the Prieftscryedout in the Heathens facrifice, Thus it is a duty to f rve theLord withoutdütradional Cor 7.and hence are thole exprellions, Watch topray,Mark 13. 33. takeheed howyou hear: Murk 4. 24. Be f,aift tohear, layingafdeak faperflaityofnaughtinefe, James 1.2LTo fray with alî thy heart, with all toymink, with all thyfoal , thie ie the gait offanaifi..ation, How many need this truth tobe powerfully preff:dupon them. I (peaknot ofprophana andungodly men, whoquite lay afide the performance of any holy duties; they praynot at all, they hear not at all,or very feldome: but ofthole who take upon them the profeffionof religion ; that hearand repeat Sermons, that have family Duties conftantly: Alas it is not the doing ofchele ; it isnot the bare performance of there that argue thy fandification r Bat dolt thou watch untothefe duties ? dolt thou takeheed to thy felfin the doing of them ? Are they not difcharged as aTask; as aharther) thou knowe(t thouart obliged unto ? This is to be feared, That when God cometh toexamineyour religious duties, they will be found but to many em- pty formalities, Datles neithercoming from the life of Grace, noryetflirting up and encreafrng that life, Oh this is tobeconldered, That all holy duties are to come from fpiritual life, and to ilk fpiritual life; whereas the deadneffe, the dulnefie, the barrenneffe of all thy private and publick duties; are a great tdIi- monie at lea[, tothy defect in fandification. Say then to thy foul, Awake thou' that fleepett : What? Did David pray thus ? DidDaniellpray thus ?Did 7onah is thewhales belly pray thus? Be afraid that thou art onely Lukewarm, that thou haft no truezcal,and fo God willfpue thee out ofhis mouth, as he threatens , Rev. ;. a6. Perfwade your (elves that your heartleffe, cuftomary , lay performances, are great limesagainst God,have a contempt of his Majefly upon them: and for which God doch threaten totake away the means of Grace, as from tome ofthe Churches of Ala. Oh then fay to thy felf, How canthis earthly,col d, lazy heart of mine [land with fandification ? How can I fay I have the love of God, and Chad inme, which is like fire, and do things thus coldly? Dwell upon this fign,medicate much upon it; for how eally and readily doch negligence, and lazineffecreep into all your performances; inlomueh that our duties are therefore fo ineffectual! , and Ddd a un-

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