Ver.17. the, i7th Chapter of St. JOHN. 229 ment, tho never fo well in Tune, yet if you let it alone, it will be loon be out of or- der, worfe than if a String were broken. After forne great and fudden Fall into Sin, there may be a Recovery, as in David's Cafe ; but it is hard to recover out of long 1Vegle&s. Therefore Sins of Omiffion are more dangerous than Sins of Commiffion. And if your Communion with God be not confiant, the Heart contras Ruff. A Key that is feldom turned, is ruffed in the Lock , by negle& and omiffion of God and Du- ties, the Heart is wonderfully hardened and eftranged from God. Gifts and Graces languifh and perifh in Idlenefs. 2 John v. 8. Look to your filter, that we lofe not thofe things which we have wrought. Standing Pools are apt to putrify 5 and Sins increafe as well as ilnfitnefs for Duties, the Motions of the Spirit are quenched. 3. Both are odious to God. It is a Qeflion, Whether God hateth moll, the care - lefs fluggifh Perlon, or the outwardly vicious ? A barren Tree cumbreth the Ground, and is rooted out, as well as the Bramble. It is not enough that a Servant do his Ma- der no hurt, but he muff do his Work. An Hufbandman is not contented that his Land does not bear him Briars andThorns, but it muff yield him good Grain. It is not enough to fay, I am no Swearer, no Drunkard. What Communion have you with God ? Whatnnotions and feelings of the Power of Holinefs ? Want of Grace depri- veth a Mau of Happinefs. As you would not be damned in Hell, fo you Ihould get Evidences for Heaven. Negative Righteoufnefs in abfiinence from Sin, the Brutes and inanimate Creatures have ; it is improper and lame. Omiffion of good Duties is a more general Means of Deflru &ion, than Commiffion of Evil : But then Commiffion of Evil is ever accompanied with Omiffion of Good, but Omiffion of Good is not al- ways accompanied with Commiffion of Evil. He that doth Evil dilhonoureth God more but he that oatitteth Good, difacdvantageth himfelf more. Sin is more odious than Wantof Grace in it fell; yet Want of Grace, confidering our Advantages, may provoke God as much as Commiffion of Sin. II. To whom he prays : Floly Father, fatality them. Obferve 5 It is God mull fass#ify es We cannot our felves, and Means will not without God. a. We cannot our felves. We could defile our felves, but we cannot cleanfe out fives; as little Children defile thetttfelves, but the Nurfe mutt make them clean. A Sheep can wander of it felt, but it is brought home upon the Shepherd's Shoulders. Domine, errare per me potei, redire nonpotei. God that gave us his Image at firft, muft again (lamp it on the Soul. Who can repair Nature depraved, but the Author of Na- ture ? When a Watch is out of order, we fend it to the Workman. Eph. 2.10. We are his Workmanfhip, created in Chrifi Tefus unto goodWorks, that we might walk therein. Levit. 21. 8. 1 the Lord that fanflify thee, am holy. It is God's Prerogative. 2. The Means cannot without God. It is by the Truth, but God is the principal Caufe. Sanaification is afcribed to many Caufes : To God the Father, as he decreeth it ; Jude t To them that are fanlifted by God the Father. To the Son; as he merited it ; Eph. 5.2 5, 26. He gave himfelf for the Church, that he might fanilify and cleanfe it. To the Holy - Ghoft, as he effeas it. 2 Theff. 2. 13. God hath from the beginning chofen you to Salvation, through Sanslifìcation of the Spirit. To Faith, as it receiveththe Grace of God ; A &s 15. 9. Purifying their Hearts by Faith. To the Word, as the Infrument of begetting it ; John 15. 3. Now ye are clean, through tbé Word which 1 have fpoken un- to you. It is the external Means. But all Efficacy is of God, and Grace is hisCreature ; elfe what fhould be the reafon, why the fame Word, preached by the fame Minifier, worketh on fome, and hardneth others, at leali it amendeth them not? Lydia alone is converted, becaufe the Lord opened her Heart. A &s 16. 14. Man's Will doth not put the difference, but God's Grace. Z.lfe. It preffeth us, r. To wait and look for it from God. A Plant thriveth better by the Dew of Heaven, than when watered by the Hand. We may fay as Teter, A&s 3. 12. Why look ye fo earnefily on us, as tho by our own Tower and Holinefs we had made this Man to walk? ,Áno l in the place of God ? faith 3acob to Rachel, (fen. 3o. 2. When you look only to the Teacher's Gifts, you lofe the Divine Operation ; it may fill your Heads with,Fancies and Notions, but not your Hearts with Grace. 2. To
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