Manton - BX8915 M26 1684 v1

r 144 SERMONS upon Serm. XXII. but a numnefs and deadnefs of Confcience; as may be called carnal Security , rather than a true and folid Peace. But by Grace we are invited to more chaft and rational delights, fuch as ennoble the Soul, and raife it td God, whole matter is not bafe and dreggy, but heavenly and fpiritual , and cannot enfnare Nature by any excels, but perfe& it : fo that a man (hall live as a man, not as a beaft, and have a folid peace, and durable com- fort and confidence that will not fail him in any condition , and this pleafure we can only have by having our fruit unto Holinels. I prove it thus: I. It is pleafant to do good , there is a pleafure and a peace that refulteth from the very re &itude of our a &ions , Pfal. 119. 165. Great peace have they that love thy Lam, and nothing (hall offend them. Our Will is conformed to the Law and Will of God, now the compliance of our Will with the Will of God carrieth a quieting pleafure with it, for then it agreeth,with its proper rule and meafure, all is right as it ( hould be. Our fubje&ion to God is to the Soul as health to the Body , when all the humors and mem- bers of the Body keep their due proportion , temper , and place, according to the in- tention of Nature , a man findeth himfelf at cafe both in his work and in his rest, and as to his Body he injoyeth himfelf with full contentment of mind. It is Co as to his Soul, when Senfe and Appetite is fubordinated to Reafon, and Keaton guided by the Will of God, all is in its proper place, and there mull needs be a ferenity and contentment of mind. 2. God owneth him that liveth in his Service ; for chore that love him , and keep his commandments, he will love them, and manifefi himfelf to them , Joh. 14. 21, 23. Two ways doth God owne them. I. He will forgive their Sins. 2. Affure them of his Love. I. He will forgive their Sins , how can any man be truly chearful , till his fins be for- given. If Confcience be but a little awakened, in the wider of all his mirth, he would fee a (harp Sword hanging over his head by a (lender thread, and ready to drop upon him every moment, and that all his jollity is but like dancing about the bottomlefs pit, into which ever and anon he is ready to tumble. Nay , let him Rifle Confcience as much as he can, he can never totally get the Vi&ory of it, but he bath his qualms, and pangs, and hidden fears , and Ringing remorfe of Confcience, which though not always felt, are foòn awakened. So that if you could dig a carnal man to the bottom, you will find that he is never truly and fincerely merry. Suppofe pone of this ever felt, yet you muft grant , that there cannot be a man, who ever recolle&s his ways, or life, and bath any ferious confideration why he came into the World , or where he (hall be when he goes out of it ; but this trouble is revived , and will haunt him , and four his contentments, and put a damp upon all his mirth. But now , he that hath Cued out his Pardon , and being madefree from fin , is become a Servant unto God , and fo hath his fruit to Holinefs, he bath true and folid caufe of rejoycing; for God owneth him as one that is pardoned, and adopted into his Family, and admitted into Fellowfhip with him, I ph. 1. 7. If we wall¿ in the light, ac he is in the light, we have fellowfhip one with ano- ther, and the blood of lefas Chrifi his Son cleanfeth as from all fin. His great ¿are is over, his wounds are healed, he bath got rid of his great fore and burden , which made his Soul fit uneafie with him , Mat. 9. 2. Son , be of good chear , thy fins are forgiven thee. When the guilt of fin is taken away, the root of all trouble is taken away. 2. He will allure him of his Love, Job. 15. I o. If ye keep my commandments, ye /bail abide in my love, as 1 have kept my Fathers commandments, and abide in his love. Holi- nefs and Obedience, as it is an evidence of our Love to Chrif, fo it is a means of keep- ing up the fenfe and affurance of his Love to us, holy walking giveth us a large (tare of the Love of God and Chrift , the Lord delighteth to owne fuch , and to put peculiar marks of his Favour upon them. Now it is a comfortable Life to live in the Love of God , if all the World loveth you, and God hateth you, you can have no folid peace, for you muft at length fall into his hands; but if you have all theWorld at. will , you may have it with Gods hatred , who can make you miferable whenever he pleafeth , he can blaB you with difeafes,fill you withdifquiets of Soul, irrbitter all your comforts; but if God loveth you , and affureth you of his Love , what is wanting to your fatisfa &ion and peace ? This is enough to fupport us in all conditions, one drop of it is enough to fweeten all our croffes, Rom. 5. 5. Hope maketh not afhamed, becaufe the love ofGod is fhed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Ghoft which is given unto us. And it is the life of all our comforts, Pfal. 4. 6, 7. Lord, lift than up the light of thy countenance upon as. Thou haft put

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