. ·· <. in th·e Soul of Mcm. 63ties, and then we n1ay hope that our labour (hall not be in vain in t/;e Lord ~i!:. All the art and indufhy of n1an cannot fonn the finalleft herb, or n1ake a fl-alk of corn to· grow in the field : it is the energy of na– ture, and the influences of heaven, which produce this effeCt; it is God rz,uho caufeth the grajj· to gror:u, and herb j or the j ervice of man 1-: and yet no body \vill fJy, that the labours of the hufbandn1an are ufelefs. or unnece!fary. So likewife the human foul is immediately created by God; it is he who both forn1eth and enliveneth the child: and yet he bath appointed the Inarriage-bed as the ordinary n1eans for the propagation of n1ankind. Though, there mufl intervene a firoke of omnipo... tence to effect this n1ighty change in our fouls, yet ought we to do what we can to fit and prepare ourfelves t. For we n1ufl: break up our fallow ground, and root out: the weeds, and pull up the thorns, that fo we n1ay be tnore ready to receive the feeds of grace, and .the dew of heaven. It is true, God hath been found of fon1e who fought hin1 not; he bath cafl: him– felf in their way, who were quite · out of his; he hath laid hold upon them, and Hopt their courfe on a fudden: for fo \vas F 2 s~ :» I Co.r. XV. s3. t Pfal. civ. 14. t Jer. iv. 3•
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