592 Praflical· Chrijlianity, --------------------- ~~) Fir{l, To thofe that lh~ll ?e f,l\'e.d, t~efe ar~· the lnftrumt.lts. whKn he Spult of <:_;ad makes u~c of to tncllne their Wtlls and couqucr their Afft:d:ions. into the. Ob~d1ence of Chnfr, and therefore they are not in vain . In conve r:ion ordi - . nanly, 1f I~Ot always., the Moral work go_es befor~ th~ Pnyfical. That is, there is, firft the rational Pcrfuafion, before there IS the efficac10us and determining 'v!otion: For God when he wor~s on Man, he accommodates himfrlf f.JitJble to the Nature of Man; that as he IS a Creature, fa he may he and is the .Subj.(t of Goo's efficacious Motions; and as he is ~a.rional, fa he may be guided by Couu f: b, lcJd by Perfuafions, ovcr~awed by CoJ_lviChons j an~ therefore when God Co.1vens auy, he takes. both thc.re ways, unvardly . he work~ by elf~ttual GrJcc, powertul. ly fuhdmn~ the ~111 as a C_rca~ure fubje(t unto lt; and ~utward!y he work" by moral Suahons, and Authontat1ve Commandsvwhereby he Incl ines rhc VI/ill fwectly and freely to confent to thc.Power of that inward Grace, whkh iodct'd he Ott\l never, nay 1ndeed he cannot refiil:; and both thefe to~ether do concur (a~ 1 f.tid before) to make a willing People in the Day of God's Power. A;Jd, (2.) Secortdly, For thofe that Perifh, thefe Comn.ldnds have a double end and ufe. (t.) Firfr, They are Inftruments in the Hand ofthecommonwork oftheSphit of God , to raife them up to all thofc moral good thin?,s rh.tt they attain to fh lrt of true and faving ~race. It is Wonderful truly to fc~ how the ragi ug Wicked · nefs of the W~rld IS dared by a sommand charged Wit~ a Threatni.;g Htr(Jd heard 1ohn Baptift, who doubt lefs latd the L~ w home to h1m, fo chat he d id 1111ny things. .Abimelech and. Laban were warne_d In a Dream, whereby God ovc r.rult:d and prevenced that Wtckcdnefs that was Intended by them. V\' ere they compel.. led to what they did? No, God loves to rule the Wodd in a rational way. fo that though he aCts an~ moves wicked Men to that good that they do~ yet he dotit it by mora l Confidcrauons, and fnch l11 ducements as do moft comport and fu1t with the ~ibe r ty of their ~wn Will: Promifes incourag~, Thrca~nings dctt:r, Counfels chrett, Commands u1force, and all t hefe concur tnftrnmentally to awe the Confciences, and to incli ne the Wills even of wickc.d M-:-n owmfeh•es. Whofe Confdence can gainfay t his? Let the vBeil: Sinner freely fpeak, when he bath been mail: mJd and wild upon his Lufts, bath not oftentimes fome Con1mand or Threatnino- fuddenly fhot it f~lf in betwixt his Confcience and Sin? HJth not two or three 0 weak Words filcntly whifpered to him, whence or from who1n he knows not, ftopt his way and g iven a Check to his Luil:, when it wJs fw c!l ing ready to breaJc forth into ACt ? And whence have they this Power? It i<; uot from themfelvcs ; for why then doth it not always fo JVork? But it is from God's Inward and Phyft,al, tho' but common Work, that when the Att::ttious are malt furious, and Corruption moft raging, will etreaually perfuade to reJtrJiu a11d arfwage. (2.) Secondly, Another End is, hereby God leaves them without Excufe : If they perifh they fhall have nothing to pretend aga..inft q~d. ..Hath he nor often warned, and counfelled and threatned them ? H ath t.t:: not told them, witn as much earneil:nefs and vehemency as the words of his f\..iniftcrs coulJ d ehvtr it, That the wages of fin is Death, and the e':ld of thofe ways where in t hey walk will be Shame and Eternal Dcftruftion? Have the y uot with all Seriouf,1efs a.1d Entreaties been called upon again and again to rtpenr and turn from the unfru it· ful Works of Darknefs, and to work the Works of God ? Can the Mouth of God or Man fpeak plainer, when they have been calling and crying after any, Turn ye, turn ye, why wi/J ye die? Th is is that which from our Souls we do befeech and intreat at the Hands of Sinners, even for the Blood and Uowds of Jefus Chrift ; nay, for the Blood and Bowels of cheir own precious Souls, whkh they are wilfu\1y fpilling upon the Ground, that they would wrrt ,md liw Now there is not one that hears this ferious Obteil:ation and is not obedient eo it, but his Blood, even th·e Blood of his Soul, will lie upon him for ever. Whac is it . that Me11 expeCt ? Muft God drive Men to H eaven by force and violence, whether they will or no? He bath laid Promifes and T hreatniugs bc:fore them, he £x.. harts and Commands: And if thefe thi ngs will not prevad w.ith Meu whofe Fa· cul rics are intire, whofe Reafon is found, and whofc Wills f!re free; Think 11Jt foolithly to charge God, for he is free from t he Blood of all .\kn, and Sinners will be found to be Self·murderers and Self-deftroyers. If I b..uJ uo; com~ tmd JFI).~~~~
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