Metaphors, Allegories, Similes, Types, &e. RESPECTING THE GRACES OF THE HOLY SPiRITj AND THE BLESSED ORDINANCES OF THE GOSPEL. B 0 0 K IV. G R A c E COMPARED TO s A L T. Have Salt i11 yourfelves, &c. lvlark ix. 50. Ex,<7< " '""ro'' aJ.a,, &c. TOUCHING the feveral metaphorical Notations of this Term, Salt, we thall refei' you unto the eleventh Chapter of Phi!o!ogia Sacra. By Salt in this Place, is meant the blelfed and mort precious Grace of the Spirit. MET AP HO R. I. SALT is of a fearching ~rality; if it be laid or rubbed upon Meat, it will pierce and fearch it to the very Bone. PARALLEL. I. TRUE Grace, or the fpiritual Operation of the Spirit, is of a fearching Nature; it will, when received in Truth, infufe itfelf into every Faculty of the Soul: The Spirit fearcheth a!! Things, )'ea, the deep Things of God, I Cor. ii. 10. If there be any Sin hid, it will fearch and find it out. II. .Salt is of a purging, cleanfI!. Grace is of a purging and purifying Viring, and purifying Nawre ; it tue ; it will not only le arch Corruption out, whe– will work om Blood, Filth, &c. ther it be in the Heart or Life, but alfo in a as common Experience thews. bleffecl manner purge and work it forth : He that bath this Hope, purifieth himft!f, even as he is pure, I John ii. 3· III. Salt hath a preferving ~13· lity; it will not only purge Cor– rup6on out of Meat, but alfo pre– ferve Meat, and other Things, from Corruption and PutrefaCtion. IV. Salt feafons Things, cauf– ing that to tafte favory, which otherwife would be no way plea– fant, wholefome, or good for the Bod)'. Can that which is tmfavory be eaten without Salt.? Job vi. 6. V. Salt is of univerfal Ufe throughout the World; it is the one Thing needful among !Ylen; Ill. Grace preferves the Soul from all manner of Sin and Defilements ; it will not fuffer a Saint to run with others to thefame Excefs of Riot; but teacheth us to deny all Ungodlinefs, and worldly Lu.fts, and to live righteouj!y, foberfy, andgodly in thisprefent World, I Pet. iv. 4· Tit. ii. I2. How jha/! I do this Thing, andfin again.ft God? IV. Grace feafons a Chri!l:ian ; it makes him favory to God, and to all good Men, favory in his Words, favory in his Dealings and Com– merce, favory in all his whole Converfation ; not only favorr himfelf, but feafoning others alto; hence called the Salt ofthe Earth. Letyour Speech be a/way with Grace, ftafoned <vith Salt: 'That ;ye may know how to mtfwer every Man, Col. iv. 6. V. Grace is abfolutely neceffary; it is the one Thing needful to Salvation, without which there is no getting tO Heaven. The Advantages all 1 Believer.
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