471ViRs.8. An Expojition, JVitb Notes faid, Lu~4·13• He Went away from himfor 11/'eA[on: Therefore Peter biddeth us always watch, 1 Pet. ·5. 8. ;. Ifwe continue our refifiance, Satan wil'l furely be a loofer.: AChrifiian bath the be!l: of it, though he repeat his a!faults a thoufand times; be can ne· ver overcome you without your confent: and though the Conflict put you to fome tro~ble, yet it bri~geth you m~chJPiritu:zlgain, more fen6ble expenences of the vtrtue of Chnft, amore earnetl: trufr ; as dangers make children clafp about the parent more clofe– ly. Bdides, ·c1s honour enough to foyl him in each particular af– faulr, though uf ual!y a Chriftstln doth not only come ojfWith viaq– r.y , but , triumph, anJ Satan doth nfJt only not prevail, but flee fr om us. · Verfe 8. Draw nigh to Cjod, a111d he will draw nigh to JOU : c~ea_nfeyour h~tnds, 7e Jinnen, and purijie)OPtr hearts, ye double-minded.. Hecometh again to the main thing in que!l:ion, the fuccefs of humble addreffes t9 God; thewing we thall not want the divine help,if we do but make way for ir. q"d is never'Jl'anting t9m, till· 'We are ftrft W~tnting to our.(elves: We withdraw our hearts from God, and therefore no wonder if we do not fed the effects of his Grace. All the world mayjudg betwee God and finners, who lhall bear the blame of our wams and miferies, Providence or our own hearts : If the fool~fbnefs of man pervert his Ways, .: there is no caufe why We fbo'uldfret agt~infl God, ProV.I9·3· Draw nigh to God,] You may look upon the words as fpoken to.Sinners, or to Converts. I, Fir.fr, To Sinners, or men uncalled; and then the fence is, draw nigh to God, that is, feek him by f4ith and repentance; and he will drttw nigh toyou, that is, with hisgraq and blef!ing. Thence obferve: . ~ Obferv~t. 1. I. That every rmm by nature needeth t9 draw-...nigh t~ God. Drawing nigh irnplyeth an abfence and depar~ure-: Weare eftran– gt>dfrom the \t!omb, P[11l.58·3· As foon as we were able to go we went aHray. In' .t1d11m we lofr three things; the Image of God, the F~1vonr ofGod, and Fel!owjhip with God. As loon as man fin. ed,God fpeaketh to(Jd~m all lo~, A dam, ~here art thot~? Not~ es u.bi'prim eras, as Auftmegloffc:th, Thouart not where thou wert · before.
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