Book III. THE WORD 01' GOD COMPARED TO FIRE. Heat he might find within, he fends away Paul: When I have, faith he, a com:enient • 'l'ime, I will call for thee. 3· is it not becaufe this Fire of the Word and Spirit is too chargeable and col':ly for them! They, like Men, grudge that which the Fire confumes, or will, if it be kept burning. The Young-Man in theGofpel was not willing to fell his Poffeffion, and part with all for Chrilt. When Men fee they mull: part with fo much to the Minifler, God having ordained that they who preach the Gofpel, jhould live of the Go.JPel, and fo much to the poor Saints, and befides all this be expofed to fuffer the Profecu– tion of fuch and fuch Penal Laws: This great Charge they fee already fall upon them, and what further they know not may fall upon them by keeping up the Fire of the Word'anrl Spirit, the Thoughts of which they cannot bear: And from hence wickedly o-o about to quench the Spirit. " 4· Do not Men quench the Fire, or leffen its Burning when it makes the Pot boil over, when they fear that all that is in the Pot or Velfel will be loft ? Even fo fome Men, when the Fire of the Word and SFirit is fo hot and flrong, that it is like w boil out a beloved Lull which they have prized for its Profitablenefs, like aRight-hand, or for Pleafure, like a Right-eye, then they halten to leffen the Fire; and like Judas, think there needs not be fo much Wafle. Now what a vile Thing, fai ·.h one, is this, to quench the Fire of the Spirit,* rather than the Scum and Filthinefs of Sin fhould be workeel and boiled out thereby? See how God threatens fuch, Ezek. xxiv. 6. Wo to the Pot whofe Scum is therein, and whofe Scum is not gone out of it? Therefore faith God, Ver. 1 I. i>et it empty upon-the Coals, that the Brafs of it may be bot eild may burn, and that the Filthinefs of it may be molten in it, that the Scum of it may be confumed. She bath wearied herfelf with Lies, her Scum jha/1 be in the Fire. In thy rtlthinefs is Lewdnefs. Her Obflinacy was fuch, that though God had made ufe of means to purge her, the refuted to be purged. And therefore God pronounced that dreadful Threatening againfl her, 'l'hou jhait not be purged from thy Fi!thiuefs any more. Some are not willing to part with their Sins, they would keep the poifonous Liquor and Scum in the Velfel, and for this the Velfel and Scum mufl be burnt together, and fhall never be parted. 5· Do not Men quench the Fire, and put out their Candle when it is like to expofe them to Danger, when Thieves and curled Enemies are abroad? Out of Fear they keep all dole, and are not willing any fhould fee Fire-light nor Candle-light, nor any Thing that fhould difcover them. So out of Fear in Time of common Danger, fome Men quench the Fire of the Word and Spirit; the Word like a Candle, is thru(\ un– der a Bufhd or under a Bed, and the Motions of the Spirit for a public Teltimony are put out. tl. Men quench the Fire, faith the fame Author, when it is like to fet the Hou(e on Fire; [o fame Profeffors quench the Spirit, when they fee what fiery Trials they are like to paf.' through, if they continue in the Heat of their Zeal. 7. Some Men quench the Fire when they are warm enough without it; they warm themfelves by the Sparks of their own kindling, thefe, faith God, jhal/ lie down · in Sorrow, !fa. 1. I r. They conclude, their own Righteoufnefs, and their old Ways anrl Converfation will be futlicient, and fo turn with the Dog to his Vomit, and with the Sow that was wajhed, to her wallowing in the Mire, 2 Pet. ii. 22. 8. Some Men let the Fire go out, faith he, through a multitude of Bt!fine(s; their Minds being taken up with other Things, they forget it: So fame Men forget the Word, Spirit and Reli_gion, being like Mart~a, troubled about many Things. Now what a wicked Thing JS it from all, or any ol thefc Caufes, to quench the Spirit? Luke x. ( 10.) Confider, It is by the Spirit thou mull: mortify the Deeds of the Hejh, which thou muft do or be damned, Rom. viii. q. And how canfi: thou do thar, when the Spirit is quenched ? it is no marvel if Corruptions prevail, when the Spirit is put out that fhoul d burn them up. (1 1.) Confider, It is by the Spirit and Word, which is called the Sword of the Spirit, by which you thouid wrellle, and refill: all the Temptations of Satan; but when the Fire of the Spirit is quenched, it puts an Opportunity into Satan's Hand, to kindle the Fire of Pride, Malice, and Lull: of Concupifcence in thy Heart ; wl:en the Spirit is • See 'Thtl)p/,iluJ Pal-wheft, ofquenching the Spirit, pagt 33· 7 E quenched,
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