S s C T. IX. of Cbnverfion, or rurning un:o God. the Nation of the Iews, ai a tree that had enjoyed much culture and dref(iea, but ail' continued unfruitful', and fo was to be cut down and cart into the fire. But what arethe reafons, why Gods powerfhouldnot aluaies go alongwith hid in- VV!,), Go Jiitstiens? What hinders, if when all thingsrequifite on the Mmifters part are Powers go! concurrent ? Yet God withdraweth himfelf. Now theremay be reafons, firft on aion ,,,tr r., Godspart two wales. weed. Fitft, From the freedomeandar6itrarineffeiohit weeks : Hedothin heaven and Realms on earth whatfoever he pleafeth. The friritklowerkwhere itlifleth, John 3. Though Gass part. therefore God bath eyed and bound us to wait on the Minittrie , we mull frequent r the Ordinances,yet he bath not bound himfelf to work at every time, to every Au- ditory. God keeps this foveraignty to himfelf : one Minittrie (hall bemore fiiceefs full then another , and at one time more then another, and to fome people more then others : Yea, many times God makes the weakcft, and moll unlikely Mini- ftrie to be more fruitful' thena learned able one : even as Leah, that was more deformed , had more Children then Rachell, who was more comely and beau. tifsll. So that as it isfolely in Gods will, towhom he will to fend a faithful' Mi.. Mary, he gives to fome that make no ufe of it , yea that hate it and are weary of it ; and again denieth it to others that long for it , or that would with the Ty- clans and Sydoniansmanifdt greater affeaions to it. Thus alfo when he bath be- (towed this Minittrie upon a people , it is fucceffeful no otherwife then he will ap. point : And herein we are to advance Godsdifpenfations , which are wife and ju(t, though the reafonsbe not alwaiesvifible tous. Even as althoughGod gave the Apofiles power to workmiracles, yet they couldnotdo there when and where they plefed, for then `Paul wouldhave recovered Epaphreditue ; but they did them Only when he vouchfafed power. So that it is notof us that plant or water, But of Cod thatgiveth encreafe, n Cor.3. Af cond reafonon Cadspart is his juj?ice : Forwhen a peoplehave by their for- mer obltinaey , and unfruitfulneffe under the means of Grace , provoked hi:n to anger,heBoth infliathat juft judgement of a blinde mind, and an hard heart, never tounderhand of beconverted : and this is very wofull, but very ordinary.Thus Torn ra. This is the reafon why the Jews, notwithftanding the daily preaching they had heard with their ears and the miracles they had feen with their eyes; yet it is fard, They could not believe, becaufe of that fpirituall judgement which was span theirfassis. And thus it was allo with Efaias, Cap. 6. He is fern, not to turn them from their evil wades, but accidentally through their corruption e to make themmore obdurate, Oh then if we fee where much faithfull preachri, g is , yet little Converfion , let us fear and tremble at the wrath of God sapon fns a people.f God bath giventhem up to their own lofts? If he bath f:nitten themwith blindeneffeof mínde, and wilfull rebellion agafnft his word , then they are under the judgementof all judgements? And is not this anger ofGod vifibly gone our againft allout Congregations? Was it not a plaindemonliration that Godhad for- fatten Said, svhenhe would neither anfwer him ay Prophet, or Orin, and Thuisi- mim,or any Other way ? So it is thy cafe ; Neither prayer for thee, or preaching to thee is Made powetfotl so convince thy Confaeoce, to change thy heart: Oh men in the (}ate of Gall and Worm wood, though they think nor, or believe not foof themfelves. Thou fhouldh after every Sermon fay , Oh Lordwhy id it that this Wordhath' not fit turned onefrommy fins? Oh what is the matterthat is barb cotfrith power uponme? Obwhat jhaflIdo? Havepiety upon rue , -O God, and fatten my heart. Have piety spinme , O jsMiniflers,andpray for me, that Gad wouldgive me a faft keart. Another reafon' why the Misifter, though faithful, maynot yet rejoyce to fee Reafons fret, thegood fruit of his }hours, is from the Mmdtry it felf, and that tWo wayes the mtnìtfry állfo. F}eft, Thet1?le0jdoth dot work like aWatnral wife to the fonverfaon ofmen , t, Sf f 3 sa
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