Ohfcrvattonz. Reafon ·I. Reafon z. The Parabl~ of the Ten Pirginr> SECT. IV. THat it is not in the hand •f the moft eminent Chriftiansto diJPence the Grace •f (.'h:ift to .whom, a~d. when ,_ 11nd wher~ thq. w!ll: Nor in all feparably, nor 'm all )oymly; 1t IS nor In alt!'he Wlfe Vugms bands t'ooerber: Ir is not in the bands of a whole Church, or all ChtJrches to do this. Thefe poor foolil~1 Virg~ns it n:ay be they did not in t~eir judgments think thus; however m the1r praCl:Ice they now uuH ro this. But thefe anfwer, Ir is nor in us. It is not in U'Ylofes to give his fpirit to whom he would, butthe Lord, Numb.u.17. · Ir isnotin Paul nor dpo!/os, theone deepin wifdom, rbe other admirable in expreiiion, but in God, who gives the commiiiion to fetch rhe whole world in, I Cor.3. 5,6. Iris nor in Chrill as Man , to give to one ro fit at his rizht hand or left. · It is not in rbe banck of thdlell Parents; It is not in the wills of all men living, {oh.x.q. 'I -~-:---------.--------------·--- SECT. V. BEcaufe they h. ave but their meafure received wholly, aDd dependent wholly from another, anfwerable to their own neceiiiries; therefore ir is not in rheir freedom, but in the hands of him who harh received it without meafure, J~hn ;.j4,~5· buttheFatherhath puta/l.tl!ingsinto his handt; as irisin llars, one llardorh not give light to another, but the Sun to all, having received it without meafure comparatively ; fo one Spring cloth not beget another, but it is in the Sea, which hath water without meafure, from whence rh~y come and return again. , Becaufe all the Saints, and all the fellowlhip of God's people, it is but a means, or they are but inllruments in the hands of Chrill to convey Grace ;now you know all inllruments a61: and work according to rbe will of the principal agent ; as ir is not in the axes band to cur down one tree for fuel; another for building; bur in the agents hand , efpecially if the inllrument be we.ak and powerlefs,and fuch are the people of God; I Cor.r.z9. they are poorthingt, and weak_thingt,andnothingt, thi,.guhat are not; zCor.j.5.not f? much astothink.. any thingofthemfelves: Irisnotin thepeopleof Godas irisinfalves, that there is an inherent verrue abiding alway ro heal, and rhat in'any man which is cureable ; bur there is OJJiy an adherent verrue wqich doth not ahvay- abide; and when it is there, works nor upon all, bur only at the pleafure of the prin· cipal Agent the Lord Jefus; rhofe means which providence hath put an inherent verrue Into, cannot b!efs, bur as rhe Lord will; meat cannot nourilh fomerimes, muchlefs can thefe without the will of another; hence £phef.4.I6. rbe Saints are edified by rhis, but from Chrill fiill. In regard of the grearnefs of the power and bo'nor that is required to difpence the Grace of God, andrhe Spirirof Gr.1ce, which rheChurchis nor capable of. - Firfl, Knowledge of the EleCl:; the Spirt of Grace which accompanies Salvation, fnallnever be giyen to any butco them, liom.ri.7. theeletfionhave obta11red it; hence they mull be known fir!l to them rhar have povver to dif- -._-__ ------~-------------------pence
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