VIR.S.S. An Exp•Jition, ~#hNotes hHmbie, I[ai.57· 15. Now all thefe graces, being exercifed in the Converfation, or in holy Duties, where lhe addre(fes to God are more diretl, make the Soul near to him. 3· The la!l: Queil:ion is,What fpecial Acts doth·the Soul pnt forth when it drawetb nigh to God? The Anfwer may be given you from what was faid before. There mufl: be an Act ofFaith in our Wants; by Faith we mufi fee that in Godwhich. we frand in need of"] m fcnfe. Fear mnfl: be atled in all our 'Ways, keeping us in Cods eye : Perfans loofe and regardlefs are far from God ; W a/k._beftJre me,&c. Gm.17.1• Then Love and Humiltty mufi be acted in ha– I.J duties. Dr~twing nigh cloth chiefly imply humble andfervarom addrefles; when you come pak__ed to God, as the rich man that will clothe you ; hungry to God, as the bountiful man. that will feed you;. jiak._toGod,as the Pbyjici~tn-that wilhu,.e you-; ~ as fe.r·7Ntnts to y.mu; Lord,,as di[cip!es to your Mafler, as blind to the light, as cold .to the fire,&c. The Creatures addrelfes are befr, when·they begin in Want, and end·in hope; when ~here is a rare mixture ofhu– mility and confidence ;: and love there mull be hevery dutY.:, for God·mufr befoPJgbt as well·as{erved; Well then, let us all mind this duty ; . fin isadeparting fromGod~ {Jaceareturning; -draw nigh to·him; make out after rhe comfOrts and fupports of his prefence: The \Vay is by Chrif1, bur you-mufl: refolve upon it; I muft,and I Will; Pfal.z7.8•. Th7 faceLord:w.i/1 1 feek_: Th€re muH be a care to bring the Soul-to this tefoluuion. Mark that place, ?er.3o.i r. I wilL caufe hirg to draw near,and ap– p,roach to me, [~~tith t he Lord; fo.,. who u thu that engageth hi; heart to dr.:n.v near to ?'i'Je;? that is,by my Spirit I will comtort them; but will,you engage your hearts? Oll't ofa convitlion of che necef– ficy and excellency of d1e duty,iffue forth a prac:tical decree ; David doth, 'l?fa/.73· 28. 'Tis go(}dfor me to draw ne-ar to God. · There is one doubt in the Text, which muil be cleared before we go further,. and that ar-ifeth.from the phrafe ufed·, drnw·Nigh t¥J God; as if is:w.ere in our own power :1\he old Pel.lgi.znsabufechhisplace; and tpe,Rbemifts .in the:r Notes-fay, That free-will and m11.ns own endea,vor .il nec~J{ary in. coming ta God, ~t?1d>'that. mi:n is 4- caufe ll{mak,ing him{elj clean, though Godsgrace be the princip~tl._ ·Ufu– aUy two things have been built upon this place. 1. fhat the beginning of Converfion .is in mans power. 2. That thisbeginning doth merit Qt io<;reafe flltth.er grace from ·God ;_for fay they,. ·Godwill noli ' dt'aw
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