2,8o the twelfth Sign PART III, ing and Leading, gives the Soul a natural Relifh of the Sweetnefs of that which is holy, and of every Thing that is holy, fo far as it comes in View, and excites a Difrelifh and Difguft of every Thing that is unholy. The fame allo appears from what- has been obferved of the Nature of that fpiritual Knowledge, which is the Foundation of all holy Affec- tion, as confiffing in a Senfe and View of that Excellency in divine Things, which is fupream and tranfcendent. For hereby thefe Things appear above all others, worthy to be chofen and adhered to, By the Sight of the tranfcendent Glory of Chriff, true Chriflians fee him worthy to he followed ; and fo are powerfully drawn after him : They fee him worthy that they fhould forfake all for him : By the Sight of that fuperlative Amiablenefs, they are thoroughly difpofed to be fubjea to him, and engaged to labour with Earneffncfs and A &ivity in his Service, and made willing to go thro' all Difficulties for his Sake. And 'tie the Difcovery of this divine Excellency of Chriff, that makes 'em conffant to him : For it makes a deep Impref- lion upon their Minds, that they cannot forget him ; and they will follow him whitherfoever he goes, and it is in vain for any to endea- vour to draw them away from him. The Reafon of this practical Tendency and Ifhue of gracious Affec tions, further appears, from what has been obferved of fuch Affec- tions being attended with a thorough Convií7ion of the judgment, of the Reality and Certainty of divine Things. No wonder that they who were never thoroughly convinced that there is any Reality in the Things of Religion, will never be at the Labour and Trouble of fuch an earner{, univerfal and perfevering Praal}ice of Religion, thro' all Difficulties, Self-denials and Sufferings, in a Dependance on that, which they are not convinced of. But on the other Hand, they who are thoroughly convinced of the certain Truth of thofe Things, muff needs be govern'd by them in their Pra&ice ; for the Things revealed in the Word of God are fo great, and fo infinitely more important, than all other Things, that it is incoafi'lent with the human Nature, that a Man fhould fully believe the Truth of them, and not be in- fluenced by them above all Things, in his Pra&ice. Again, The Reafon of this Expreflion andEr%& of holyAffeaions in the Praaice, appears from what has been obferved of a Change of 'nature, accompanying fuch 1yfeetions. Without a Change of Nature, Men's Praaice will not he thoroughly changed. 'Till the Tree be made good, the Fruit will not be good. Men don't gather Grapes of Thorns, nor Figs of Thirties. The Swine may be wafhed, and ap- near, clean for a little while, but yet, without a Change of Nature, he will {fill wallow in the Mire. Nature a more powerful Prin= cipie ofAnion, than any Thing that.oppofes it : Tho' it may be vio- lently reffrin'd for a while, it will finally o ` erne that which re- ftrains
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