338 An Expofttion of the Epiftle ~~--~~----~--~~ ---~-------~ defilements, the outward defilements that in mens lives they ;un into, through Sermon the kttowledge of Chrijl, without changing of their nature; for you fee they XXVI. are Swine frtll, though they do not wallow in the mire. But compare this other· ~Power,which giveth us all things pertaining to life and godlinefs, he telleth US· We are alfo made partakers of the Divine nat11re, And he cloth not fay only' They efcape thegrofl defileme11fs ofthe World,as I faid the word there fignifieth ~ butefm~u~JI7H;i,iv xJqp.~'i,ivCm~t-d'{-?r:7oef.,, They have ejcaptd the Corrttptto1ts that are itJ the wo>·ld throt<gh luf1. Therefore there is a change not only in refpect of outward defilements, but a change in refpcct of inward difpofitions, the Cor– ruptioiiS that art i11 the world through lufl; thefe, a man having a new Nature put into him that lu!leth contrary, 11e is free from the bondage of it in fome meafure. Here is now a world of difference between wa!l1ing of a Swine from the outward defilement of the Mire lhe hath wallowed in, and altering her Swini{h nature, there is no fuch work of power comparable in the one.that is in t he other. To wa!l1 off the pollutions, the grofs defilements of the world that men lived in formerly, though it be through the knowledge of Chri!l; it is no– t~ing to the !lam~ing of a new Nature upon them, to the making them par– takers of the D1vme nature, that they !l1all efcape the Corruptro>t that u in the world through lu(l; that is, to kill the inward dJpol!tions of fin'· to defiroy them, to alter the root and frame of the heart; this faah he, IS a Divine power. In a word, The one is but like laying S"mpjo11 alleep, and then bind him all his !lrength remaining, and when he awakes he breaks aju11der all his b;nds. But if you come to the work of the f:Ioly Gho!l, which is effectual upon corrupt Nature, tt u k1 U1ng of Sarnpjo11, tt " grvmg h1m a deadly blow, which all i 11 corrupt nature doth oppo[e; it doth tJot oppoje tht orher fo much, therrfore it is 11ot a work of fo t,rtat a power. So much for that fir!\ Particular, It is but a re!lraint of corrupt Nature where– as the other is a poiJing away of Old things, a de!lroying io part of the Bodyof fin. Now to de!lroy, and fubdue, and bring to nothing, therein lies the excud– inggreattujs of powtr, not in re!lraining, though it be a work of the Gofpel through the k11owltdge of Chrijl. In the Second place, There is an elevation, or an atJi!ling of the Spirit of God whereby the Holy Ghofr cloth joyn witla a man's Spirit, and enableth him t~ perform actions above nature, which of himfelf he would not do, And, my Brethren, there are ihofe in the World that fay, that Grace 'is nothing elfe but an a11i!ling, an acting of the powers of a man. They acknowledge an inward Calling, as well as an outward; but the inward Calling is nothing elfe but an ele– vation, the Holy Ghofr elevateth a man's Spirit, and joyneth with it, and firengthneth it with a fupernatural !lrength put into it, and fo by his a11i!lance and joyning with it, it is enabled to do that which of it (elf it \Oould not do. To exprefs the difference concerning this, becaufe much dependeth upon it. You I; now in the Old Te!lament, that A11gels did appear in the likenefs of Men and perhaps had the Bodies of men, for that time created for them by God a; fome Divines think, make that fuppofition: They did all things as a man 'the Angels acted that Body, ufed the Tongu~ to fpcak with, and the Feet to ~ove, and the Hands to do tins? and that to pull m Lot (as you know they did) when they !\ruck th~ other ~nth blmdnefs, . They were created Angels that did ir, that the Text IS clear 10. Now there IS a great deal of difference between their atJi!ling and joyning with thefe bodies, and that work of God when he did create a Soul, and breathed it into man's body at fir!\; there is an infinite diffe· rence between them in the power put forth, for an Angel can do the one; but to breath the breath of lrfe, the Sottl, mto a Body thus formed and fathioned, God only could do it. The one IS a work of eo:cffdi11g greaflu{s of power; but meer.!J. to alii!\ Tm1quamforma, and not biformans, Cas the Philofopher {peaks) an affi{li11g form, and not an t~~jormJng form (as the Soul IS to. the Body;) this is not a work of tuch great power, for you fee an Angel can do It. I
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