z,$ `Thefourth Sign PART III. Not that a Senfe of God's Greatnefs and natural Attributes is not exceeding ufeful and neceffary. For, as I obferved before, this is implied in a Manifeftation of the Beauty of God's Holinefs. Tho' that be fomething beyond it, it fuppofes it, as the greater fuppofes the lefs. And tho' natural Men may have a Senfe of the natural Per- fec`tions of God ; yet undoubtedly this is more frequent and com- mon with the Saints, than with natural Men ; and Grace tends to enable Men to fee thefe Things in a better Manner, than natural Men do. And not only enables them to fee God's natural Attri- butes, but that Beauty of thofe Attributes, which (according to our Way of conceiving of God) is derived from his Holinefs. IV. Gracious Affé&ions do arife from the Mind's being enlig?ht- ned, rightly and fpiritually to underfiand or apprehend divine Things. Holy Affe&ions are not Heat without Light ; but evermore arife from fome Information of the Underftanding, fome fpiritual Inftruc- tion that the Mind receives, fome Light or aduaI Knowledge. The Child of God is gracioufly affeéted, becaufe he fees and underftands fomething more of divine Things than he did before, more of God or Chrift and of the glorious Things exhibited in the Gofpel ; he has fome clearer and better View than he had before, when he was not affeéted : Either he receives fome Underftanding of divine Things that is new to him ; or has his former Knowledge renewed after the View was decayed ; r John 4. 7. Every one that loveth, knoweth God. Phil. r. 9. Ipray that your Love may abound more andmore, in Know- ledge and in all 'judgment. Rom. 10. 2. They have a Zeal of God, but not according to Knowledge. Col. 3. i o. The new Man, which is renewed in Knowledge. Pfal. 43. 3, 4. ()find out thy Light and thy Truth ; let them leadme, let them bring me into thy holy Hill. John 6. 45. It is written in the Prophets, and they !hall be all taught of God Every Man therefore that bath heard and bath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Knowledge is the Key that firft opens the hardHeart and enlarges the Affeaions, and fo opens the Way for Men into the Kingdom of Heaven ; Luke r I. 52. Ye have taken away the Key of Knowledge. Now there are many AffeIions which don't arife from any Light in the Underftanding. And when it is thus, it is a fure Evidence that thefe Affeaions are not fpiritual, let then( be ever fo high f. Indeed " Many that have had mighty ftrong Affections at firft Con- " verfion, afterwards become dry, and wither, and confume, " and pine, and die away : And now their Hypocrify is mani- " felt
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