Burgess - Houston-Packer Collection BT715 .B85 1652

542 ThePronnfe ofthe Spirit, and walking Secr.XI, unclean, foit lhould be hard to bring anunclean from a clean. In thefe things ' lieth the marrow and quinteffence of Religion, men are but in the porch, and neverenter into theHoly of Holies till they be experimentally acquainted with thefe things: O that all our Congregationswere underflanding of rhefe things. If Minifters preach againft outward groffe impieties, fuchasthe light of nature condemneth, with that you can go alon; ; but concerning this new fpirit and new heart, or theold heart and old man, which the Scripture (o much fpeaksof, you knownothingof it. Signstodifco- - In the next place let to confider, What die the Signs that may difcover When ree ties wren Dn- ti proceed performholy Dutiesfrom this newSpirit Within, and net rather asweftdo fromEdit- from this new cation, Cnflem orcarnal Klket1s to thegood or ill will of man. Forthis is certain, Spirit within, All men perform holy D ties, either from inward principles ofGrace, or ont- and not feom ward principlesof humane refpedts ; now how fhallwe knowwheaa man cloth other grounds. them from this inward new Spirit ? t. Firfl, He that cloth them from an inward principle, ü confiant, and uniform, and immoveable in them , for this is made a divine Nature in him. Now as All na- tural principles in thecreatures do carry them on in a confiant fetled way; The fire doth alwayesafcend upwards, the fume defcend downwards; lbthewicked man he is conflant tohis,principles of . inne, you fhall never finde him check- ing or flopping himfelf, but byfome extraordinary power ; Thus the godly man, his heart and foul loth carry him on tothe things ofGpolinefs, and if he be at any time flopped in ir, or hindered, it is, as they fay the difeafe is to the body, Prsro -Natoeram, betides the nature and inclination ofa godlyman. Hence Paulmakes fuchamilerable complaint ofthofe lulls that did (titre, and move inhim, as thole that had led him away Captive againft his will, Rom. 7. Look to this then you who aie inconflant, and are for holy Duties in come fits, in fume fad moods. So that it is accidental, and wholly inexpeeted, if thou let upon any religious Duty, we may by way ofwonder cryout, as they did, Is Saul al/o among the Prophets ? What makes thee pray , come to Church ? What putteth thee in this fit ? What good Difpofition art thou in fo fud- denly ? a. Secondly, Alen thatperformoutward Obediencefrom inwardprinciples, they do it with delight andjoy. There is nothing fo pleating and connatural to them., All principles havea kindeof delight in their connatural aprons and objer'ts. Thusthevoluptuous principle is for the pleafuresof the flefh,the ambitious prin- ciplefor honoursand earthlygreatnefs, and thegodly principle is forholineffe and godlinefs. Davidhowoften doth heprofeis his delights, and even ravifh- mentS in theOrdinances ofGod, and the enjoyingof him! Chrifl called it His meat anddrink to do the willof his Father ; and why ? becaufe the Law of God waswritten within his heart. Indeed the godly fometimesfinde dulneffe , lift- lelnefs, and even a rvearifomnefs upon them in the wayes ofGod. But yet their main and chief delight of foul is in God and the Ordinancesthat lead to him,ra- t her then inany thing elfe ;Thou haft put moregladneffe into my heart, then they have had, when their wine and oyl increafeth, Plal.q. 3 Thirdly, Where inwardPrinciples are, they will carry to the Obedience of Gods Commands, though therebe' no outward Encouragements to allure and draw on. The Father and Mother love their Children, though they have no outward ad- vantages by them, becaufe it is a natural principle. You do nothire and intreaÈ an hungry man to eat his meat, or a wearied man to takehis refl. Natural appe- tite cals for there things. Thus he that bath thenew heart and fpirit within him, he is godly, and liveth holily, though therebe no favour, no encouragement, no honour to fuch men. q Yea fourthly, Where inwardPrinciples ofGraceare, They grow the more pow- fullerand eolive, byhowmuch the more theyare cppefed. Thus the water that is floptdoth fwellthe higher. The colder the weather is, the hotter the fireburn,

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