168 The fourth Sign PART. III, Former confiRs only in a further Underftanding, thro' the Afiîftance of natural Principles, of thofeThings which Men' may know, in fome Meafure, by the alone ordinary Exercife of their Faculties. And. this Knowledge confifts only in the Knowledge of thofe Things per- taining to Religion, which are. natural. Thus for Inftance, In thofe Awakenings and Convictions of Confcience, that natural Men are often fubjec`t to, the Spirit of God gives no Knowledge of the true moral Beauty which is in divine Things ; but only aflifts the Mind to a clearer Idea of the Guilt of Sin, or it's Relation to a' Punifh- merrt, and Connection with the Evil of Sufering ( without any Sight of it's true moral Evil, orOdioufnefs as Sin) and a clearer Idea of the natural Perfections of God, wherein confifls, not his holy Beauty and Glory, but his awful and terrible Greatnefs. 'Tis a clear Sight of this, that will fully awaken the Confciertces of wicked Men at the Day of Judgment, without any fpiritual Light. And 'tis a lefl'er De- gree of the fame, that awakens the Confciences of natural Men, without fpiritual Light, in this World. The fame Difcoveries are in fome Meafure given in the Confcience of an awakened Sinner in this World, which will be given more fully in the Confeiences of Sinners at the Day of Judgment. The fame Kind of Sight or Ap- prehenfion of God, in a lef er Degree, makes awakened Sinners in this World, fenfible of the dreadful Guilt of Sin, agairift fo great and terrible a God, and fenfible of it's amazing Punifhment, and fills 'em with fearful Apprehenfions of divine Wrath ; that will thorough- ly convince all wickedMen,of the infinitely dreadfulNature &Guilt of Sin, and aflonifh 'em with Apprehenfions of'VVrath, when Chrift_ !hall come in the Glory of his Power and Majeffy, and every Eye shall fee him, and all the Kindreds of the Earth fhall wail becaufe of him. And in thofe common Illuminations, which are fometimes given to natural Men, exciting in them forme Kind of religious De- :ire, Love and Joy, the Minf is only affii{led to a clearer A.pprehen -- lion of the natural Good that is in divine Things. Thus fometimes, under common Illuminations, Men are railed with the Ideas of the natural Go: .d that is in Heaven ; as it's outward Glory, it's Eafe, it's Honour and Advancement, a being there the Objects of the high eavour of God, & the greatRefpecl of Men &Angels, &c. So there are manyThings exhibited in the Gofpel, concerning God and Chriff, find the Way of Salvation, that have a natural Good in them, which 'quits the natural Principle of Self love. Thus in that great Goodnefs of God to Sinners, and the wonderful dying Love of Chrift, there is a natural Good, which all Men love, as they love themfelves ; as well as a fpiritual and holy Beauty, which is feen only by the Rege- oerate. Therefore there are many Things appertaining to the Word of Goa's Grace delivered in the Gofpel, which may caufe natural Men, when tey hear it anon with joy to receive it. All that
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