The twelfth Sign PART III. has been obferved, of the fpiritual Appetite and Longing after fur- ther Attainments in Religion,which evermore attends trueAffection, and don't decay, but increafes, as thofe Affections increafe. Thus we fee how the Tendency of holy Affections to fuch a chrif- tian Practice as has been explained, appears from each of thofe Cha- ràcteriflicks of holy Affection, that have been before fpoken of. And this Point may be further illuftrated and confirmed, if it he confidered, that the holy Scriptures do abundantly place Sincerity and Soundnefs in Religion, in making a full Choice of God as our only Lord and Portion, forfaking all for him, and ill a full Determination of the Will for God and Chrift, on counting the Colt ; in our Hearts clofing and complying with the Religion of Jefus Chrift, with all that belongs to it, embracing it with ail it's Difficulties, as it were hating our deareft earthly Enjoyments, and even our own Lives, for Chrift ; giving up our (elves, with all that we have, wholly and forever, un- to Chrift, without keeping back any Thing or making any Referve ; or in one Word, in the great Duty of Self - denial for Chrift ; or in de- nying, i. e. as it were difowning and renouncing ourfelves for him, making ourfelves nothing that he may be all. See the Texts to this Purpofe referr'd to in the Margin. -I- Now furely having an Heart to forfake all for Chriff, tends to actually forfaking all for him, fo far as there is Occa1 on, and we have the Trial. An having an Heart to deny ourfelves for Chrift, tends to a denying our felves in Deed, when Chrift and Self-Intereft Rand in Competition. A giv- ing up our felves, with all that we have in our Hearts, without ma- king any Referve there, tends to our behavingourfelves univerfally as his, as fubject to his Will, and devoted to his Ends. Our Hearts entirely clofing with the Religion of Jefus, with all that belongs to it, and as attended with all it's Difficulties, upon a deliberate counting the Coft, tends to an univerfal clofing with the fame inAct and Deed, and actually going through all the Difficulties that we meet with in Matth. 5. 29, 30. Matth. 6. 24. Chap. 8. 19, ---22. Chap. 4. 18,- - --22. Chap. 10. 37, 38, 39. Chap. 13. 449 45, 46. Chap. 16. 24, 25, 26. Chap. 18. 8, 9. Chap. 19.21, 27, - --29. Luke 5. 27, 28. Luke IO, 42. Chap. 12. 33, 34. Chap. 14. 16,- - -- 20, 25,----33. Chap. 16. 13, ,,?fits 4. 34, 35. with Chap. 5. r, - ---Ii. Rom. 6. 3, - - --8. Gal. 2. 20. Chap. 6. 14. Philip. 3. 7, ---1o. lam. I. 8, 9, 10. Chap. 4. 4. 1 john 2. 15. Rev.. 14. 4. Gen. 12. 1,---4. with Heb. II. 8, 9, to. Gen. 22. 12. and Heb. I1. 17. Heb. I I. 24, --27. Deut. 13. 6. and Chap. 33. 9. Ruth. I. 6,- ---16. with Pfal. 45. I o, I 1. and 2 Sam. 15. 19,-22. Pfal. 73. 25. Pfal. 16. 5, 6. Lam. 3. 24. Ter. 10,16. the
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