6 S a e T,XI. inGods Statutes, .and keeping his Yudgements. 545 righteonfneffe: When either thefubje&s are not capableof actions, or theyhay e not time andopportunity toproduce them ; No doubt but in Infants that are ele- ded, the inward principles of grace are infufed, and therefore they are made Members elChriti t yet as they have a foul, but that foul cannot put forth any a Lions of reafon fo theyhave the principles of grace, but they bud not forth into fruit. The Thief alto that was Converted at the Taff hour,there was a new (pint in him, yet he had not timetobring forth the fruits ofrighteoufneffe : fo that it isone thingnottobring forth the fruits of righteoufneffe , becaufe there is rD inward root within; and another thing, becaufe there wants an opportunity, or the objet`fs about which fuch graces are exercifed are not prefent. Patel !peaking ofthe Saints care and love to him, excufeth them, becaufe thoughtheywere ready todoe good to him, yet theywanted an opportunity, Phil,4, r e. A godlyman is indeed a tree that is planted by thewaters fide, andbrings forth its fruit, but it is in due feafon. Though Chriff turfed theFig-tree, that had no fruit on ir, although it was not the feafon; yet hereby (haply) he would admonifb the lent, of how much forer curie they have caufe to beafraid, whohad the feafon of grace, but negleßed ir. A Godly man therefore ought not to be dejefted , if he doe not abound in fach plentiful exercifes of graces as others doe, if his mind&be willing: Onely he hath not filch opportunities , nor fach Inttruments, whereby to make his light Chine before others, as many ofthe Children of God have. Lally, confider this, Althougha confiant praelice ofungadlineffebe afaredemon- flration of agracelefi heart,yet a confiantabftinence fromgroffe fine, is not prelim!, a fare evidenceof agood heart. Underftand this,that thoudonot deceive thy foul ; for many think, if they indeed fhould wallow in the Mire andFilth of finne, it were fore they were bea(fly Swine; but becaufe they keep themfelves clean from the grolfe Tranfgrefions of the wicked, therefore they conclude this new heart is within them t but you have heard that men may be rettrained . from fn; by the providenceof God and otherwayes, who yet have not this fpi- tituall life infsitèd in them. For this Spirit of God cloth not onely caufea man to forbear from finne , but in fach a manner alto, and upon inchgrounds, that the molt painted Sepulcher, the moft exaét Formalilt can never reachunto. Their things laid as a foundation, it is good to confider, why a mancannot carry this coal of fire; thisprinciple of grace in hisbofome, but it will break outinto a liaise, And, Fief, Thereafon rte evident from the nartere of Grace , or this new heart within men, its of anoperative, and fpitituall vigor, it will not let a man alone, hecan have no reif, or quiet within himfelf, if he (hould not outwardly praftifethat god- lineffe, the root whereof is in bis heart. Hence the principles ofgrace arecom- pared to a&ive and vigorous things,to feed fowen, which though little in quantity, yet is great inefficacies Thusfabn faith, AmanbornofGod,dothnot,norcan- notfin, becate immortali feed abideth in him, a John 3.9. And fo the Word of God received by faith in the heart, is compared to feed fowen,that brings forth much fruit. Thus Jeremyand David, when they were withheld fometimes from good,they felt a fire kindled in their brealts that burnt and fcorched them, and Could not but fpeak : So theee4poflle, we believe, therefore we fpeak_. a Cor. 4. a3. Andgrace is compared toa Fountainof living waters, alwaysfpringing out ofthe belly of the Godly, fobn7.18. The love of Chrifi confrainetb tee, faith the Apo- file. This is the newWine that theSpirit of God puts into the Converted,where- by they are heartned, and cheered within. O then be afraidof thy negligence, carelefneffe, and negleéi of anholy life ! If grace were like feed, like fire within, It would fet thy wholeconverfationon a flame.Now grace in theheart muft,nee& be a (harp Arrowto wound finne, teeing that it is in the hand of Chrilt, and the fpirit of .God ; fo that itcannot but conquer fin in the life, fetingChrilt andhis Aaasr fpirit 4, tuf e,
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