FaMINImsea- Put on the whole Armour ofGoal. 79 ed, the more fury he fhewes, And therefore we who are t of grapple with lum, now his time is fo {bort, had need come well appointed into the field. Thirdly, it is the end of all Gods difpenfations, to compleat his Saints in their graces and comforts, Wherefore (loth he lop and prune by afill6tions, but toporge,tbat they may bring forth Ia. more fruit (that is fuller and fairer?)Tribulation work! patience; Rona 5.3, 'Tis Gods appointment for that end: It works,that is, it encrea- feth the Saints patience, it enrageth indeed the wicked, but meekens the Saints, 'Tis his defign in the Gofpel preached to carry onhis Saints, from faith to faith, Eons. 1. 17. And accordingly he hash furnifbed his Church with inflruments,and thofe with gifts, for theperfeairg of the Saints, and for the e- difying of the body of Chr:§1, Eph. 4. i 4. Wherefore doth the Scaffold Band, and the Workman on it, if the building go not up? For us not to advance under fuch means, is to make void the counfel of God : Therefore the Apoftle blames the Chri- flian jewes, fhb. 5.1 z for their non-proficiency in the School of Chrifl. when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again, Which, be the firfi principles of the Oracles of God. 0 how few are there who endeavour thus to promove in their Vire fpiritual Rate, and labour toperfeawhat is yet lacking in their knowledge, patience, and the refl. Firif, tell fome of adding faith to faith, one degree pf grace to another, and you fhall finde they have more niinde to joyne houfe to houfe, and lay field to field ; their fouls are athirit , ever gaping for more, but of what ? not of Chrift, or Heaven : it is earth, earth they never think they have enough of, till' death comes and flops their mouth with a fhovel-full, digg'd out of their own grave. What ) a tormenting life mutt they needs have, who are alvvayes crying for more weight, and yet cannot preffe their covetous defires to death? 0 Sirs, the only way, (If men would beleeve it) to quench this thirft to the creature, were to enkindle another after Chrill and Heaven. Get but a large heart vehemently thirfling after thefe, 2nd the other will die alone. As the Fevourifh thirft doth when nature comes to her temper. Secondly, others labour not thus to perfeci grace, becaufe they have a conceit they are per. le&already, and upon this fancy throw away praying, hearing, and.A
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