Clarke - BV4500_C46_1659_v1

QHeflions,andCzfe:r of Conrciencé Chap. t 2 Secondly, he mayplofe all his affeblions which are the wings ofthe foul : as it was with' Sardis, Key. 3.2. fo with Afa , z Chren. 16. I o. and David z Sam. I I. 25. Thirdly, hemay grow to be fenfelefs of fin , and of the grace of Goa : fo were ;ofphs brethren when they had thrown him into the pit , Gen. 37.25. fo the Ifraelites when they had made the golden calf , Exod. 32. 6. fo David, zSam.It.x3. Fourthly, he miygrow to be notorioufly vain and worldly: fo Paul complains of tome of his dear friends, 2. z 1. Fifihly, he may grow to thatpafs that the fervice ofGod may be a burden to him : he may cry out as thofe, Mal.i.i 3. Hence Paul exhort; the Galatianr, ch.6.9. Be rot weary ofwiI-doing. Sixthly,he may befo dead that nothing can quicken him:and fo it may fare with the whole Church, even whenGod íhews fignes of his departure.: Hence Ifa. 59.16. 1wondred that there was no interceffor. weft. Wlere then is grace in fuch an one ? Is he unchilded a- . ? . s4nfw. The grace of a childe of God can never be wholly loft, not for any goodnefs in himfelfe but' through the goodnefs of God to him : For , Firll, there is a feedof GodRill remain; in him, I fohn 3:9. fo that he can- not commitfin with that full fwinge as wicked mendo. Regeneration is an im- mortal feed, 11'et.%.z3,z5. Secondly, there are fupernatural habits remaining in him, whereby he hath inclinations to good, and againPevil, Pfa1.37.24. Though the righteous , fall, yet fhall he not utterly be caft down, &c. Now the difference between the feed, and habits is this. This feed is immediately in the foul , thouEls . it rumies through all the powersof it: But thefc fupernatural habits are iltmec.iately in the powers and faculties of the foul : and herein they differ from moral and natural habits ; in that thefe do naturally incline, but fupernatural ha- bits do never aaually incline , but upon concurrence of fpecial grace. Thirdly,achilde ofGod bath ever an,anointing, ilohn 2.27. t. e. agifr,and graceof God , whereby his eyes areenlightned to look uponGod and his Or- dinances , and all fin, and iniquity with an heavenly eye, which can never be ta- ken away : fo that he will not think or talkofGod asa natural man doth : he will difcover that hebath fomethiiag ofGodRill in him. f ourthly, there is a little ffrength in hisheart, as `IZev,3.8. He doth a little fearGod: bath formegood delires though but weak, and a little endeavour to pleafeGod : though corruptions be very Rrong. Quell. Whence proceeds this back-Eliding in Gods children ? Anfw. From their givingway to fin, andnot looking to themfelves to abliain from it ; as from wotldlinefs,pallion, &c. as 7îm.5.6. This David found by woful experience, and thereforeprays, Pfal.Si. i z. that Godwould uphold hitn with hisfree fpirit. So we fee in Peter, Matth.26.47. now the reafons .why fin doth fo deaden grace in their hearts are , Firf, fin is afoul-killing thing : when the devil hooks a man into finne , he draws him into the dead Sea, IIof.I 3.i. when Ephraimoffended inBaal, he died, Eph. 2.1. ye were dead infinne : Hence he calls the Lawoffin, th 7. Law ofdeath, Rom. 8.a. finne weakens all the powers andfaculties ofthe foul, andbody that they cannot flit toany duty. It's like agreat weight on a mans back,Heb.I2. T. As Chriffaith , cares overcharge the heart, Luke zI.34. It feparates between God which is the fountain of life,andshe foul , and therefore no marvel if it deaden it. Secondly,.

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