210 Dauids longing, andDauids lone. a ray 38. r4, he cryedout in the angui fhofhis Couic , '0Lordit bath oppref idnee-, Comfeít me? Was not lobs dehre'earnefl, when feeling himfelfe to be euen ouercome of blob ro. ao. forrow,he brat}out into theft words , bLet the Lordceafe andframeofffrom met, that I maytake alittle comfort ? Ina word, let ourSauiours teftimony bee fàffici- ent forthe longingof all the Prophets and righteous menthat lined inthole el. t Mara ;. t7. der times , 'j fayontoyen that manyProphets and righteetamenhase defired toles theft things whichyonfee,&&. Ifweconfider the timesof Chrifsvifible being on earth,and after, wee (hall feeljheSpirit ofGod like himfelfe, and bringing forth the fame fruits, inothers of Godschildren. Olde Simeona holy man, here is his dLde.z.zç. fly le , d He waitedfor the confolarionof7frael,and he defired lifebut only to latis- e Luk,z;. ç r, fie this longing. lefeph an honourable counfeller,yet herewas his glorie ' He waited (or longed)fr the kngdome ofgod. Paul mayfland infleede of many ex. fi om.7.t4, amples:what (thinkewe) didbelong for,when vttered thole words, weer- rheaman that) am,whofhall definer meefromthis bodyofdeath ? adde to this , his g Roro8. a ;. Mg/sing inhimfelfe, his h defiring tobee with Chrift. TheIewes that heard firer hPhi.t.23. preach andwereprickedby his flingingSermon, called to them, nrylrnandbre. t Aftió.;o. ehrenwhatpall wedoe? was not there longing ? The poem perplexed laylot which came to 'NolandSilas with a crie, Sirs °What mull Idoe to befamed ? was nothis defire fervent ? I mightbring in a cloud of witndfes, but their may fuf- fice to thew the generali difpofition and affeftion of all Gods children ; All their foaleibe hungry foules, all their heartsbee longing hearts, themaine thingaffefted by them is faluation. If will have a reafon for it, it isno hard matterto yeeld avery fdfficientone. Thereare three things requiredof a Chri. Tian: Firlt,bya feelingof finnetofeekeChrift. Secondly, Bya holy faith to finde Chrift. Thirdly, By newneffe of life to dwell with Chrift. The firfl of theft three, is the fame longingforialuationwhich Iintreatof: and therefore, as ina ladder there is nocommingtothe vpperfleppe, but by the nethermoff, fo there is no dwelling with Chrifi which is theheight ofhappineffe in this life, but by finding him ; found hee cannot bee but by Peeking; tofeeke him and to long forhim are all one no man feekes himbut hewhich longs for him, and no manlongs for him,but he will care to feekehim. Taking this point thereforefor granted, becaufe I feeno reafon whyit Ihouid be denied, I will apply my Ielfe to theapplying ofir. The ifèa I prayyou inthe feare ofGod obferue it. There is nothing which cancer. netha Chrillian more,ifeither we telpea the Brait chargegiven for it, or the great comfortriling out ofir, then tofeeke toallure hisConic that her is in the number of thofd that !hall bee faued. What true comfort can a man take in any thing , who is vnrefolued ina matter of this confequence ? her may haue a kinds of flightand deceirfullgladneffe , but (as lob faithof the ioy of hypo- I robas. ç. crises) tltb butfor o moment, andmwhen beedyes h, hlehope persfheth, and his mprou.u.7. candle fhall bee pmt out With him. Well then, it beeing a matter of that be. nrob ,8.6, .. hoofe to eueryman, tomake his future elate lure vnto his foule, know this of atruth , (I fpeake it not as defiring to deceiue, but as labouring to re- folue) that there is no more certaine courfe then this , to try thy feufe and to examine thy fclle by this worthy patterne , compounded of fo many worthy examples: affure thy Idle the liker thou art to them in thisAffeEtion, the neerer art thouto life and happinef%s and the leffe thou art transformed in- to this Image, themoreofthe corruptedold man abideth in thee: and if thou holdonfo, when the daycommeth in which eternall life (hall bee flared out vnto thofefoewhom it is prepared, Chrift Ihall difiniffe thee with that cam- a¡b B y; fortleffe fpeech whichwas fometime vied toSimon Magus , o Thoukeno part nor fellowfhippe in this buftnej. Let it not bee grievous unto thee, that I aske theea few 0,Fflions , andbee thou perfwaded,that it is a matter that be- booueththccmuch, well toanfwer them : What latheprincipall degreeof thy fettle ?
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