5o An Expojititm of the Epiftle --~----~~----~-- --~------~ ~partr, but of one part heavenly, and fo imperfectly fuch meerll:' ex parte il/u. Serm. IV. mi 11 amis (!) do1umtis, on the part of the Donor, becaufe he JS m Heaven that ~gives them, and from Heaven lets themdowri; asalfo, becaufe they have a remoter tendency towards heaven and falvatioil. thott art not far from the ki11g– dom of Heavm, fa id Chrifl to one more than ordinarily enlightned among the.. Jews; but heavenly they a~e not ex parte r:cipientis, tl_1e hearts of the re– ceivers of them remammg fl!ll corrupt (as whtlfl Self rematns the predommant agent and Principle, a man mufl needs frill remain, whatever his objects which Self purfucs, be,) they are earthly, as the affections themfelves are, that are flirred thereby m them, for tf the root or foyl be earthly, though the ram that falls on it, and caufeth it to fprout and bud, be from heaven; yet the fruiqnufr needs frill be efleemed fuch l which comparifon the Apoflle bath an allufion to in Heb.6.7,8 . For the earth which:drinketh in the ram that comtth oft 11pon it, midbri11gethforth herbs meet for them by whom it is dreffed, receiveth 6/e(!i11g from God: but that which beareth th.orns mtd briars, is rejefJtd, mzd is 1Jigb unto curjing, whofe md is to be burned. And perhaps to put this or the like .diflinction between thefe fpiritual gifts, thus imperfectly heavenly, from tho!e graces of true regeneration, might be one great part of the Apoflle• aim in that fpeechJames I.I6,t7,18. 'Do11ot erre,my6tlovtd Brethren (he fpeaks to the whole bulk and herd of Profelfours and hearers of the word , in refpect that many mifrook imperfect workings on men, and actings by men, from hearing the Gofpel fortrue heavenly grace, and fo by falfe reafonings deceived themfelves, as ver.22.) 'Do 11oterre, my belovul Brethrm, fays he, every good gift, and ~~~:~i,!;. every perfeef gift u from above, andcomtth dow11 from the Father of ltghts, with whom is 110 variab!me{s neither /hadow of ttm1i11g. Of his own will be– gat he tls with the wordof truth, So_making the diflinction between true Pro– felTors'and falfe to confifl tn an m_nate dtfference m the gifts themfelves; the one good and perfect, _as Regeneration is, w~ichhe i~flanceth in, and which alone 6ri1tgs forth frmt to perfefltoll, as Chnfr fays m the Parable of the Sower, which IS every way good and perfect, both ex parte da11tis, from above, and e.>: parte recipit11tis, changing the heart into an heavenly nitture, as the etJgrafted word, v.21. ufeth to do, fo making the man holy and heavenly, as the Word and Spirit itfelf is: and that which confirms this, is, that .7arnrs's fcope is'l!vidently to diflingui!h feemingly true ProfelTours from true P,rofelTours indeed. lJ at!Y fetm to 6treligiom, ver. 26. Pure religio11 mzd U11de(i!ed before God, (!}c. v. .,_7· Oh therefore, let us all be moved to feek enrneflly after thefe good and perfetl: gifts of true holinefs and regeneration, and things that accompany falvation; to be blefl withthefe Spiritual bleflings in Heavenlies, the polfelTours of which James twice in that Chapter termeth 6/effed, and them alone ! U. LearJI hence likewife, _how to judge r_ightly of <;'od's dealings with thee in thts World, and to put a rtght and true mterpretatton thereupon, and of his heart toward~ thee therein, God often drives a clean. contrary defign to our expe<\l'ations, de!ires, yea our very prayers, which perhaps have been drawn out and laid forth much upon things outward and earthly, which we have judged meet for us; but God perhaps hath broken thee in thefe, deny'd thy Prayers, yea. taken all away from thee? and done the clean contrar~.. ~ut withal, con– fider, ':"hathe bath be_en a domg all that while upon t!lY Spmt m ?rder to Spiri– tual thmgs m Heavenltes. Hath God encreafed thee m faith, pattence, fubmlf. !ion to his will, humbling thy felf u~de_r his mighty hand, keeping thee from fin ? Hath he enlarged thy Coafr m JOY m the Holy Ghofl, communion with himfelf, and fleady ~nd clofe walking with him, and will not let thy heart go forth far after any thmg vain and carnal , but he comes upon thee with fome crofs, hedgeth up thy way, narrows thee in fuch comforts that would draw forth and encreafe thy lufls; but makes an open door, an enlarged abundant entrance into his own bofom, in accelfes to him and converfes with him: or if not therein, yet encreafeth thy fecret flare of gracious difpofitions, and holy compliances of !pirit towards himfelf. fuel~ as his dea~ings with thee call for?_ Thy heart is kept m awe to fin, fearful to omit hofy dunes, dependent on him m all, loving of him, eying of him, walking v.ith him, and aiming at him in all thy ways. So as whatever
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