228 SERMONS upon Serm,26. 2)f, is to teach us what to feek for our felves and others; not temporal Felicity, fo much as San&ification ; not Deliverance from Aflliéfions, nor outward Bleffings, fo much as the fan&ified Life of them. This is to pray for one another out of the Com- munion of the Spirit, and for our felves out ofa Principle of the Divine Nature. Tem- poral Bleffìngs are only to be defiredin order to fpiritual Ends. Nature is allowed to fpeak, but Grace muft be heard firft. Mat. 6. 33. Seek ye Ali the Kingdom of God, and the Righteoufnefi thereof; and all theft things floall be added unto you. Thefe are for Overplus. 2. Obferve from the Matter, he had prayed for Confervation from Evil, now for San&ification ; It h not enough to keep from Evil, but we maft be holy, and do good. Pfal. 34. 14. Depart from Evil, and do good. Ira. r. r6, 17. Ceafe to do evil, learn to do well. God hateth Evil, and delighteth in Good ; as we muff hate what God ha- teth, fo we muft love what God loveth : Eadem velle b smile. I durft not fin, God hateth it ; I durft not omit this Duty, God loveth it. Our Obedience muft carry a proportion with the Divine Mercy, not only be pofitive, but privative. Divine Mer- e), fpareth and faveth. God is a Sun and a Shield. Pfal. 84. I i. Therefore we mull not walk in the Comfit of the Vngodly, nor hand in the 1l/ay of Sinners, nor ft in the Seat Of the Scernful: But our delight muff be in the Law of the Lord, and in his Law mull we meditate day and night. Pfal. 1. 1, 2. We mull have Communion with Chrift in all his Ads, in his Death and Refurre &ion; he mortifieth Sin, and quickneth the Heart. Rom. 6. r r. Likewife reckon ye alfa your fives to he dead indeed unto Sin, but alive unto God, through Jefus Chri our Lord. The fame Divine Power that killeth the Old -Man, quickneth theNew. In the Word, which is the Rule, there are Precepts andReftraints; therefore we are not only to efcape from Sin, but theremull be a delight in Communi- oriwith God ; there mutt be an efèhewing what God forbiddeth, and a pradifing what God commandeth. Thus are we obliged from our Approver, our Principles, our Encouragements, our Rule. Vie. Let it preis ùs not to reft in abflaining from Sin. Men are not vicious, but tf ley are not fan&ified, The Tharifees Religion ran upon Negatives. I. Both are alike contrary to the New Nature. 2. Both are alike differviceable to the Work of Grace. 3. Both are hated by God. r. Both are contrary to the New Nature; it hateth Evil, and loveth Good. There is a putting off, and a putting on; Ephef. 4. 22,. Thatye put of concerning the former Converfation the Old YJ1an, which is corrupt accordingto the deceitful Lufls : .4nd that ye put on the New Man, which after God is created in Righteoufnefs, and true Holinefs. It is indeed a Queftion, Where the Trial of a Chriftian lieth mofi fenfibly, in Mortification, or Vivification? in an hatred of Sin, or in the pra &ice of Duty? It may be alledged, that our Nature doth more eafily dole with Precepts, than Prohibitions. We aremany times content to do much ; if the Law require this or that, we yield and content to it : but to be limited and debarred of our Delights, this is molt diftafteful. Men that love Sin, cannot endure Reftraints ; O that there were no Bonds! And therefore to meet with Man's Corruption, the Decalogue confifts more of Prohibitions, than Precepts; the fourth and fifth Commandment are only pofitive. But then on the other fide, it may be alledged, that many that live a civil Life, and do no Man wrong, have no care of Communion with God; and that Sins trouble the Confcience more than Want of Grace. Natural Confcience doth not ufe to finite for fpiritual Defe&s; Sins work an a&ual Difteuiper and Difturbance ro Reafon. It is the new Nature that maketh Con- fcience of Duties, and of obeying God's Precepts; therefore the New Nature is here molt tried, but yet both muft be regarded. 2. Both are alike differviceable to the Work of Grace. It is another Queftion, Whether we are more hardened by Sins of Omiflion, or by Sins of Commiffton ? For Sins of Commit-from it may be alledged that they film the Confcience, like a great Blow on the Head, and call Grace into a Swoon. David's Adultery put all out of or- der ; 2 Sam. 12. 14. Howbeit, becaufe by this deed thou haft given great occafon to the Enemies of the Lord to blafpheme, the Child which is born of thee fliall furely die. He lay in a fpiritual Swoon till the Child was born. But then on the other fide, Negle& of Duty depriveth us of the Influences of Grace, and hardens us infenfibly. An Inftru- ment,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=