PART III. ofgracious Ajethons. 261 to refrefh and rejoice the Hearts of the Saints. But this is all that I aim at by what has been faid, to Phew that it is the Nature of true Grace, that however it loves chriftian Society in its Place, yet it in a peculiar Manner delights in Retirement, and ferret Converfe with God. So that if Perfons appear greatly engaged in focial Religion, and but Iittle in the Religion of the Clofet, and are often highly of - feared when with others, and but little moved when they have nQnc but God and Chrift to converfe with, it looks very darkly upon their Religion. XI. Another great and very diffinguifhing Difference between gracious Affeaions and others is, that gracious Affections, the higher they are railed, the more is a fpiritual Appetite and Longing of Soul after fpiritual Attainments, encreafed. On the contrary, falle Affec- tions reft fatisfied in themfelves. fi The more a true Saint loves God with a gracious Love, the more he defines to love him, and the more uneafy is he at his Want of Love to him : The more he hates Sin, the more he defires to hate it, and laments that he has fo much remaining Love to it : The more he mourns for Sin, the more he longs to mourn for Sin : The more his Heart is broke, the more he defires it fhould be broke : The more he thirfts and longs after God and Holinefs, the more he longs to long, and breathe out his very Soul in Longings after God : The kindling and raifing of gracious Affections is like kindling a Flame ; GG Truly there is no Work of Chrift that's right ( lays Mr. She - ,' pard) but it carries theSoul to long for more of it." Par. of the ten Virgins, Part I. p. 136. And again, 44 There is in true Grace an infinite Circle : A Man by thirfting receives, and receiving thirfts for more. But « hence the Spirit is not poured out abundantly on Churches becaufe Men Phut it out, by (hutting in, and contenting them- felves with their common Graces and Gifts ; Matth. 7. 29. cc Examine if it be not fo." Ibid, p. 182. And in p. 210, he Pays, ' ' This I fay, True Grace as it comforts, fo it never fills, but puts an Edge on the Appetite : More of « that Grace Lord ! Thus Paul, Phil. 3. 13, 14. Thus 64 David ; Out of my Poverty I have given, &e. I Chron. 29. 44 3, 17, 18. It's a Pure Way never to be deceived in lighter " Strokes of the Spirit, to be thankful for any, but to be content with no Meafure of it. And thi; cuts the Thread of Diffe- rence, between a fuperficial lighter Stroke of the Spirit, and d< that which is found." S 3 the
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