70 s SERMONS upon Serm. Face, Lord, will I feel¿, He reformeth by his Light, and exciteth by the Power of his Grace. In thort, it it apowerful Teaching, joined with an inward Working : His Scholars are fure of Proficiency, for he hath their Hearts in his Hands, and can move them according to his own Pleafure: There is not only an Illumination of the Mind, but a Bowing of the Will. Corrupt Nature in Man is ftrong enough to refill any thing of Man, as he is Man. 3. The neceffity of this inward Light; without it the Word will not work. Many hear outwardly, that are never. the better. John 6.44. Nó Man can come to me, except the Father which path feet me, draw him. There mutt be an inward Light, an inward Operation on the Soul, or the Word is without Effe&; the Heart mull be opened, as well as the Scriptures. As all the Multitude that thronged on Chrift did not touch him, as the difeafed Woman did,who touched the Hem of his Garment ; Who touched me ? faith Chrift, knowing that virtue had gone out of him, Mark 5.3o. Many may come to an Ordinance, but virtue paffeth out to few : The outward Mini(ler can but fpeak to the Ear, it is Chrift works Grace in the Heart; unlef the Holy Ghoft come down, and open the Mouths of Preachers to fpeak, and the Hearts of People to hear, all is to no purpofe. Z.Y. . Well then, Every time you come to the opening of the Scriptures, look for this inward Light to (bine into your Hearts, that you may have a Paving Knowledg of God. - in Chrift. Remember you come to hear that Doctrine, which Chrift bath brought down from the Bofom of the Father, and he mull bring it into your Bofoms. There are two forts of Hearers. I. Some are carelefs, that come hither, but fcarce hear the Minifter ; their Bodies are in the Sanfluary, but their Spirits are in the Corners of the Earth. Their coming is made fruitlefs, by the wandring of their Hearts ; they haveexperience of the Power of Satan, not of Chrift : The Devil prefenteth to their Fancy fuch Objefts, as carry their Spirits from God and his Work. Ezek. 33.31. They come unto thee as the People cometh, and they fit before thee as my People, and they hear thy Words, but they will not do them : for with their Mouth thej jhew much Love, but their Heart goeth after their Covetouf- nef. Carcafes without a Spirit are but Carrion, Clothes fluffed with Straw, that, were a mocking: So is a Body prefent at hearing the Word,without a Soul. What is the dif- ference between an abfent Body, and a wandring Spirit ? God knocketh at the Heart, but there is none within to hear him. 2. Some hear the'Minifler, but do not wait for the Illumination of Chrift, which . fometimes God grants to us in the hearing.of the Word. A{#r 11.15. As I began to fpeak, the Holy Ghofi fell on them ; this is to draw us to Attention. Ads 16. 14. Whofe Heart the Lord opened, that Elie attended to theft things that were fpoken by Paul: When God dif- pofeth us to hear his Word attentively, he approacheth to us in Mercy. SERM.
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