Grounds of not coshing. to Chrif Plato that no man should, draw water out of his neighbours Well, undll he had digged to the Potters- earth in his owne court: It is a law in nature, Man never eometh unto Chrift, never endevors to partake of his fulneffe,until he hath tried, and knows his owneemptines, untill he difcernes his want Chrift.The yGibeenites Pent not to 7ofua until they faw.them- felves befieged by the Amori ti fb Princes. The Elders of Gilead hàted 7eptha, and expelled him out of , theirFathers houle, came no more unto him until they were in diffrefe, law their want of him, plainly perceiving that none elfe could helpe them. Mans opinion ofhis own fiilnes makes hint under- value the fumes of Chrift. Christ is never pretious in the eyes ofman untiliman feel his want of him,: As man is more or lesfe fenf ble of his want of Chrift, fo he is more or lei e industrious in approaching unto Christ. The E full ftomack regards not the bony combe :The full foule a loatheth Chrift,who is fweeter then the hony or the hony combe. Chrift is ever moftprecious.with the Joule that knowes its owne emp- tineffe. Unwillingne!Th to be at the cost of comming to Christ : though Christ proffer himfelfe freely, yet man mutt be at forme cost, or he cannot.çome to Christ, he cannot enjoy Chrift. b Jacob cannot come to Bethel mile& he put away .his Idols. Moles cannot come nigh the burning Bufb, unleffe he put off his fhooes from his feet. Man cannot come nigh unto God and Christ, unleffe he purge his heart, and clean fe-hsr hands. The Merchant in the Parable fold c all that he had to buy the pre - cious Pearle, to make that his owne . Man that will come to Chrift, and make Christ his, muff fell all that is his own : Man mutt firft come out of hirnfelfe, before he can cone to atria. __if 4 any man (faith Ch rift) will come after me,let him de- ny himjrife and take up bis erofe day and follow me : Fie that will come.to Chrift, miff deny his owne wifdome, and be as a e foolein his owne apprehcnfion ; he muft deny his owne fulne{ e, and be as an empty houle in his own fence and-feel- ing ; he muft deny his owne r.ighteoufileffe, and be as a na- ked man in his owne underftanding he must deny his own reputation in the eyes of men, and be, contented to have his F n 1111E __..33_ Y Joth.lo.6. ludges I I. S.Prov. 17.7. a Iohn.9. Matth.:9. Keve1.3 I 7. 3 Unwillingnes b Gen.3 S. z. Exod.3. s. Iames 4 S. c Mat. 13.44. d Luke 9..13. e 1 Cor.3.rs. i?aom
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