Preston - Houston-Packer Collection BX5133.P74 S2 1637

The Saints Spirttuall flrength. 171 will call you no more : therefore think with your felves what a time of darkeneffe , and forrow is will bee to you then, when with the five foolifh Virgins, you (hall be (hut out of heaven and hap pineffe : I fay, there is a time when he will fweare that you (hall not enter into his ref{ ; and doe not oncly labour and watch for the opportunity, to take the Spirit when it is offered,but labour to get the opportunity. Vfe the meanes whereby you may get him, and for your helpe herein I will lay downe force meanes whereby you may get the fpirit. The fir(t meanes to get the Spirit, is this, you i; meanes. mutt labour to know the Spirit : for what is the reafon that men doe not receive the fpirit, but be- caufe they know him not : they doe not know him in his purity, in his free working , in his in- comprehenfible greatneffe, in his increate holi- neffe; and therefore they put off the working of the Spirit. Men thinke that now their finne in this kind is not fo great as Simon magus was ; it is true fay they, Simon Magus finne was a great finne, and worthy of punifhment , becaufe hee thought to have bought the Spirit with money ; but if wee well confider mens dealings now with the Spirit, wee fhali finde that the fame finne is committed now : I fay, men thinke they doe not commit this finne of Simon Magus, when indeed you doe ; you know how great the finne was in him, and what a judgement was inflicted by pronunciation again(t him, and your fines are as great and the fame, but Z3 you

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