Self intendment eflranne from (bruit. Bafeneffe of . iris. 3 25 nothing of Chrift in him, he is flefhly in his difpofition, in his afl:1iou, in his intention, in his undertaking hee minds himfelfe and his owne fleRaly ends and nothing ela, he cannot looke beyond himfelfe,. his owne flefh is the circumference within whichhe moves, and the Centerwher- in he terminates his motion : Nothing in the courfe of Nature works beyond the Spheare of its owne a&ivity, a thornebeares not grapes, a Sparrow begets not an Eagle, the corrupt z Tree brings forth corrupt fruit; the waters move no higher in the cttterne then they are in the foun- tain : He that is not of Chrift by a holy and gracious ®= riginell, cannot fincerely intend Chrift, but himfelfe in his undertaking ; and he that lookes not beyond himfelf, hath nothing of Chrift within him, he hath no principle,root nor fpring ofgrace inhis heart.Werehe a tree of Chrifts plan- ting,hewould bring forthhis fruit to Chrift. Were hea child of (Thrifts begettinghe would encline and moove towards Chrift in his affection ; he would primarily intend Chrift in all his doing, as the Rivers comming from theSea, re- turne and a empty themfelves into the Sea, thus they who are of Chrift returne and empty themfelves into Chrift, doe all. for Chrift, for the filling up and making of Chrift glorious ;. he that confines himfelfe within himfelf, hash no love of Chrift within him ; fonathans love to David caufed him. to firip himfelfe for David, love to thrift will make a man as occafìon requires firip himfelfe of all his honour, .. favour among men and earthly riches for Chrift, according to the meafure of mans love to Chrift, are his manifeflations of himfelfe for Chrift : For love f eketh not b her owne :. He that loves Chrift will abafe himfelfe for Chrift, put himflfe and all that is his under the feet of Chrif1 ; he that Peeks himfelf, that terminates his thoughts within the circumference of his owne flefh, bath a very loo and bafe fpirit, (Thrifts Spirit which is a Spirit of c pow- er,, a.Spirit magnanimity and courage, a Spirit of a glo- ry, a molt glorious and excellent Spirit doth not refs up- on him. Ile that minds himfelfe and his owne. ends bath no cleare appreheniiou and comfortable elifcerninn ofChrift and Nihil agil ul- trafûui» genus Mar.7.t7. a Ecci: t.. Evilsof felfé- intendment. i. Na love. t Sam.ta.t. b t.Cott3,i. z A bafefpirit. ct Tim. t.7. dt i'et.q.tg. 3. No comfor. tabledifcer- ning-of G od
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