236 The fir f ulneffe of Sinne. mutt I needs be unto curling ? And this conviaion f,ould make men labour to haveplace in Chrill, becaufe there- by they shall bee enabled to pleafe God, and in forne meafure to bring that glory to him for which they were made. For this is a thingwhich God much delights in, when a Creature dothgfori f:e him (Wive! y, by living unto him. Hee will not lofe his glory by any Creature. but fetch it out at lat }, but when the Creature operates out of it felfe of Gods end, and carries Gods intention through its owne worke, then is he moll honoured and delighted. Herein,faieh Lbrill,ù my Father glorified,that ye beare much fruit, Ioh.15.8. and herein did Chrif glo- rifee his Father infinifhing the werke Which he gave him to doe,Ieh. i 7.4. W hat an encouragement lhould this be for thole who have hitherto iiv'd in the lulls of the fle(h, to come over to Chrift and his righteoufnefiè; and for others to goe on with patience through all difficulties, becaufe in fo doing they worke to that end for which they were made, they live to God, and bring forth fruit unto him, who hath in much patience fpared, and in infinite love called them to himfelfc ? How should we praife God that bath given us any flrength in any way to doe him fer- vice ? that is pleas'd to account himfelfe honoured when he is obeyed by us, who fpo:le all the works we do with our own corruptions ? And how bould we husband all the precious moment of our life to the advantage of our mailer, whole very acceptation of fuch unworthy fervi- ces f ould alone bee both encouragement and reward e- nough unto us ? The more profitably any man lives, the more comfortably he (hall dye. Now to confider more particularly this difability which comes along with flnne,we may note, that it is ei- ther totall,when a man isall f eA, as by nature we are; or at bell partial!, in proportion to the vigor of concupif- cence, and life of fin in the bell of us. To touch a little upon both of thefe. Firf ii
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