--------to-t~he~E~ •. ~P~H~E~S~l~A~N~S~.-----------,6-1~ iv.e you no other differences,) fo the Apoaie defineth it, I Cor, 1.. '4· He~..., ~hat hath a fpiritual Underflanding to take in the fpiritual excelle~cies of the Ser1Jion. t<liings revealed in the word, it is to fee the excellencies of the thmgs them• ~ felves. You mufl know this my Brethren, ther~ is a twofold goodnefs in the things re• vealed in the word ; there is a proper goodnefs, and there is an accidental, a by• oodnefs, There is a proper goodnef>, as no.w take the inflance in Chrifi, there ~re his pr.oper excellencies, a~ he is holy, as he is.righteous, as he is the Son of God Jor wJ1ich God loveth lum; and all thefe glones that are proper and refpeCI:– tive to his perfon. ~ow, to havean eye to fee all thcfe and w have the heart taken with them, th1s IS to be a fpmtual man; here IS a new pngc1ple, Thert there is an accidental goodnefs cometh by Chrifi; you !hall (cape Hell, you !hall be happy, thefe things the wmd revealeth too; · there is the br~ad of life, and there is the fawce. Now, the heartthat IS carnal, that loveth lumfelf only may be taken with that by·goodnefs that is in Chrifi, but never ;.vith the goodnefs that is in Chrifl himfelf. If thou bafi a heart fuited to the fpiritual things revealed in the word, and thou findefl thy heart taken with them ; it is certain thou art not flelh but fpirit. Would you try your hearts then? Obferve what confiderations they are that fet your affections toward fpiritual things,that fets them afioatc, that fets awork your Will a work. If they be fpiritual confiderations of the excellencies of the things themfelves revealed in the word, which you fee and find a fuitablenefs in your fouls to them. It is certain thou art a fpiritual man, thou art more than flefi1 this is not working upon the principles in nature, for the natural man can• not ~eceive the things of the fpirit, for they are fpirirually difcerned. I hou feefl them fpirituaJiy and art affected with them as fuch; certainly thou art fpi• ritual. I will end with a word or two. If any ofyou be yet troubled. You will fay, 1find nothing in me but meerly thefe natural principles, (for ought I can per• ceive,) fiirring in me. If thou dofl not, let me but gain this of thee firfr. Though thou findefi no more, yet thou mayefi have more. For when God beginneth to work firfl upon any man, there is nothing but felf.love in him, and all the motives ufed in Scripture to feife upon a man's fclf they are fuited unto him. But when he fiirreth Jelf-love thu~ in thee, he putteth love in thee to himfelf fecretly, which will flir thee though thou perceive it not. For you mufl know that a great deal in a man's heart at firfi is but a temporary work, and as at the firfl rairmg the Bells there is fuch a jangling that the great Bell cannot be heard. So the love of God that is the foundation of all, at the firfl it may not be difcerned. But however let me obtain thus much, that becaufe thou findefi no more, do not conclude there is no more. Secondly, Let me give this Counfel to thee more, Thou feefithedefeCI:sof thine own heart fall iliort of any true work." Make this ufe of it, fiand not exa• min!ng thy heart, and poring, upon it endleny ; but }et a'! I thefe drive thee to Chnfl, and thou !halt find that faah 10 lum W1ll cut the knot. Go to Chrifl for fupply of all the things thou wantefi, and trade with him fiill, and while thou dofl thus live by faith; thou wilt find in the end the comfort of all thy graces come in before thou art aware of it. Thi~dly, In that God bath begun thus to work upon thee, it may help thy falth it.ljus,,~to"~O to Chnfl, (not as a thing to refl u·pon, but thus far,) that lt IS more·probable he will own thee. and receive thee to mercy than another, why ? Becaufe he bath begun to work upon thee, whether it be a true work or no, I dare not fay it is , neither oughtefl thou, till the Holy Ghofi reveal the contrary. Go therefore to Chnfi and labour to make up the match with him, and to get all things agreed on, for this is the mifcrt
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