n P 0 A Er O' ME N A, Or a P R E F A C E , wherein befidt:s an Explication of the Title , feverall neceffary preliminary quefiions are handled and difcuffed . • Intend 6y the i!ljjifiance of Gods holy Spirit in the weekly returns ofthu Le[/Nre, to handle the Epiflle •ofJames; 'tis full ofufefNI and praClica/ matter; I have the rather chofcn this Scripture, that it m~) be an allay to thofe comforts , which in another extrcifc 1 h~tve endeavoured to draW ant ofthe 53. oflfaiah: [Would.at t h~ fame time can'] on the DofJrine both of Faith and Manners, and jhew you your duties together with your incouragements, leSf with a Ephraimyoufhou/d only love to tread out the corn, andrefiife.to aHofea xo.u break the clods; we are all apt to di_vorce comfort from dQty, and' to conttnt our /elves With ab barren and nnfruitfullmowledg ofJe- b ~Pet. x. 8, (us Chrifi, M if all that he required of the World, Were onef.J a few nak!d, cold, andunaa:ive apprehenGons of his merit, aP-d all things Were fo drme for us, that nothing remained tobe done by us; this u the ·wretched conceit ofm11ny in the pre{ent age , ~nd therefore ei-\ ther they abllje the fweetnefs ofGrace to loofenefs, or thepower of it to lazinefs. Chrifis merit and the Spirits efficacy are the common places from whence the) draw all the defences and excufes of their own wantonnefs and idlenefs; 'Tu true, (jod hath opened an excellent trMfure in the ChHrch, to defraJ the dchts of humble Goners, and to bear the ex:pen~es of the Saints to Hea-ven ; but there is nothing alloWed to wanton prodigals, who JPend freely and fin lavifo-' ly upon the meer account ofthe riches ofGrace; M in your charitable bequefts, When )OU leave monies in the WaJ ofa ftoc/z, •tis to encourage mm in an henefi calling , not to feed riot and excefs; who ever lef~ a {um for drun~ards ! o,r a .flock.._ to be empfored in C x.Jvv ti.vTI to dicing andgaming! Again I cmifefs what ev,er Grace doth,it doth )GWT~, free'J; c weh:weGrace.for ~race , , 'John 1.1($. ;th~~ is, Grace for ~~u~rt;_~i'~,r~ (]races fak.§• . But thq:eu a dijferc1JCe het'Ween ment ana means; (X me:a ba.~i~d aSchool~ma[fer m.t) teach a childe gratis, freely, andyet he muft tate, quadalibi ta'<! p_ain.t to g~t hi-4 (earni.n~; and there~ a dijfer~nce betw~m d:ftin~ius ~aa(ality •mdOrder; merCJ 1:S never obt,Hned but m the ufe ofmurwat . .means; Wifdomes dole is difpenfed at Wi[damesgate, Prov. 8. ~+ AP''~o!ur,., But :ke ufe ofmeam_doth not oblige God to give mercy; there are Xrl:V-~[1-(l. tct, ' crmdtt tons which. only jhew the Way ofGraces worlzin iT. Again , l x::' TllV A.~elr, g ttl ~ ,,(, . '·hch ;(J. • f/ d od ,f I h' h lVJffi.llO. ran tH~t·c oJmg wzt . r1;;. t! an e.xce cnt uty,an o 1 t,.x tg • Gror.m 1 ;cum. A e~ · J
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