Ephcf.4.i i.ta 406 1!?ottues toperfivadevs to hallos: our repentance. man would thinke they fhould rather haue Paid, let vs (aft and pray,för to morrowwe (hall die;but thisplainly íheweth that we are neuer theneerer our conuerfion vnto God, and triterepentance thoughwe arecertaine that death approch- eth; it is onelietheworke ofGods fpirit, which ordinarily worketh not by themeanes of frckneffe orfeare ofdeath,but by theminiilrie oftheword,which is Godsowne ordinance, inflitotedofGodfar thegsttherrnQ together ofthe Saints,and for theed,j cationofthebodyofChrift. And therefore whileíl the Lord' callethvs in the preachingof the word,let vs hearken . vetohis voice, and turnevnto him by vnfained repentance: for if Gods ovine ordinance is not effedluall for our con- uerfion, affuredlie there is no hope that euer wewill be con- uerted by ficknes or anyother extraordinariemeanes what- focuer. It is an admirable miracle wrought by the infinit wifdotne and almightie power ofGod, that a poore (inner fhould be conuertedvetohimby thepreachingoftheword, for hereby wewhowere dead in finne, are raifedvp tonew- neffeoflife;wewhowereborne blind,are indued with fight; curheartstnorehard then the Adamant, are made flexible; and loft aswaxe to rcceiue any imprefíion, which the Lord will imprint in them, and wee are moued to denieour felues,, and to cafl away our owne righteoufneffe, and to refland re- lievpon Chrifl Iefus alone for our iuflification-and faluati- on, which is quite contrarie toour natural' difpofition :but it werea miracle ofrniracles, that all thefe things fhould be wrought in vs by fickncffe, which the Lord hathnot ordai- ned for this purpofe, when as themeanes appointed byGod himfelfethe miniflerieofhis word, which is Godsowne or- dinance could neuer worke them in vs. It may bee indeed that Dogshand lyingheauy vpon vs in the time offickneffe; and fearing worfe iudgements in the life to come,we maybe moued herebytomake a goodly fhew, and to vow great re- formation ifwe might bee reflorcd to our health : It may be that withTharaah,wee may make a fained confef ionofour fumes, andpromife to amend,ifthis iudgement may bee re- maned,or thatwe maywith e/Achaboutwardlie humbleour feluesbefore God, to the end we may cfcape thofe fearefull punifhtnents
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