s6z THE WORD OF GOD COMPARED TO FIRE. Book IIi: METAPHOR. and bafe Allay. Whatever Fire feizes effeCtually upon, it convert& it into a Flame. PARALLEl. leaves t10 Metals in the Building unconfumed, fave what is built upon the Foundation, Jefus Chrift, who like Gold, Silver and precious Stones will endure the Fire; 1 Cor. iii. 11, 12, 13, 14,, 15. It alfo caufes the Soul to burn in L<>ve to Chrift, to be lifted up with tranfported A<– dency of Affeftion after him, and defiring to be united to him alfo, Luke xxiv. 32. All Men are to be tried whether with refpect to f1oc1rines or l'raetices by God's ·wurd, and what difagrees with this Standard, or will not bear touch with this Touch-fl:one is tQ i;e rejeeted as counterfeit, and of no value. '· . • IV. Fire is of an afcending . lV. The· Word of God when it hath b)f the Q!ality, greedily mounting to its Spirit kindled the Soul of a Sinner; it immedi– proper Seat, and will not reil: till ately eaufes his AffeCtions and Delires to afcend it incorporate with its own Eleand mount up to Heaven as to its Center and only ments. Earth and Water incline Place of SatisfaCtion, leavin<>, as the Fire only to their own Centers, though fameteaves Afhes, his dreggy and 'impure Part behind; times artificially made to afcend. the Soul feems to be then on the Wing wholly for Heaven, too pure and refined for Comm4nion with corrupt Things. 'ihey jhall dwell on High, !fa. xxxiii. 16. V. Fire is of a melting and V. The Word by the Spirit, foftens the hard foftening Q_t,Jality, Iron, and other and llony Heart, and makes it a Heart of Flefh, Metals are made pliable by it, difpofes the Soul, and makes it fit to receive and fit to receive any Figure whator take the Seal or heavenly ImpreOion, and foever, as Wax keeps the ImprefImage of God. See Zed. fion of the Seal. VI. F'ire hath a vivifying, en– livening and quickening ~~ality, it refre!.hes and refl:ores that Heat l!nd Warmth, which the prevail– ing Cold deprives us of. VII. Fire is of a comforting and confoling Q.t,Jality and N a– ture. VIII. Fire is of a penetrating or piercing Nature, there is no Pore or fecret Paffage of the Body thrown into it, but it pierces it. IX. Fire is of an affimilating Q.t,Jality, that is, it changes all Materials into its own Nature, or fets them on Fire. X. Fire is a very profitable Element, there is a neceff1ty for it; many Trades cannot be -followed without it, nor can Men and Women live without it. VI. The Word and Spirit quickens the Soul of a Sinner, nay raifes to Life tbofe who have been, in a fpiritual Senfe, dead in Sins and Trefpa.!fes, Eph. ii. r. It is the Spi.-it that quickens, the Fle/h profits nothing, John vi. 63 . The Law kills, but the Spirit gives Life, Rom. viii. 2. VII. The Spirit of God, called the Comforter, adminifiers thegreatefl:, nay, the only Confolation to the Soul of Believers: 0 what Comforts have fome dejeCted Chrilhans received from the gracious Promifes of God's Word! John xiv. 16, 17. Vlll. The Word and Spirit of God fearches all the Faculties and Powers of the Soul ; it pe– netrates not only the Head but the Heart, J udg– ment, AffeCtions, Confcienee, Will, &c. It leaves no Corner unvifited, nor fecret Place undif– cerned, Heb. iv. 12. IX. The Word and Spirit of God makes the Soul fpiritual, transforms the carnal Mind, and makes it Partaker of its own divine Nature, it fets it in a Flame of Love and fpiritual Zeal for Chrifl: and his bleffed Truth, J ohn iii. 6. I Cor. ii. 15. and vi. 17. 2 Pet. i. 4· X. The Word and Spirit of God is of fuch abfolute neceffity, that Saints cannot live one moment without it. Hence the Spirit of Chrifl: is called, 'Jbe Spirit of Life, Rev. xi. Moreover, the Word of God was efieemed by Job, above his neceffary Food, Job ii. 12. and by David, above Thoufands of Gold and Silver. Man lives not by Bread alone, but by every Word tbat proceeded> out Qj the Moubh of God, Man.. iv. 4· A CLu.ifl:ian can perform no Duty aright acceptable to God, without the Dtvme Help and Influences of the Sptnt of God. XI. Fire is oftentimes quench– ed, and in. a great meafure pu: X l. Se is the DiviAe Fire maoy T.iro~s quenched and put ot.It in a great meafure, to the I HuR
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