ten Virgins Opened and Applied.· 33 ry fit feafon.' And as he brings forrh fruit, fo he goe; for fruit in feafon, P(lti.I.3. And when the foul cloth rhi~, rhe Spirit of the Lord helps, when the ac'i is ce~ fed. Now the fie feafons are, . . I. At begmning of ar:y a0ion, as pr~yer, hearing, reading: All rhe time a man is in his JOurney, or m hts work, he tscarned on by the act of Fairh ar firfl: ferriqg out: The reach of F~irh is long, and continues all prayers, all the dury rhroughour, rhe act of fairb is fhorc : Now the Lord looks ro his people according ro rhe firfl:. z. When our aet begins ro die; as Mofes lifted up his hands, and when th'}·wm heav7, A aron and Hur fupporred rhem again. ~ 3. When aman feels himfelf fl:rong, now apr robe felf-confident ; now Lord for an humb!e heart! And rhus you are ro live on Chrift, which if done, would make a Chrifl:ians life glorious, and give infinite content to rhe heart of Chrifl:. Buc here is rhe mifery, eiuher hearts are full, and need nor, or llorhful, and care nor for living fo. Th.\t truly I do nor wonder to he1r and fee.fo many withering trees, as rhough blafl:ed by wrath , becau[e you fetch n0t all oUt of rhis fiock ; and Chrift isfuch afuanger, becaufe youarefofeldo:n wirh him to aB: and brino forth fruit to him. ' "' SECT. VI. z cOnfi der of rhe me~s .to aet from Chr.ift Jefus, and indeed herein lies rhe skill and life of a Chrillian , and rhis is rhe complaint of many a Soul, Chri!t is full, and he is not for himfelf, but for thofe rhat wanr·, and I co'l!e to him when I want•ic, and yer I find no help; and hence many are brought ro chink either it's in vain ro corn~ to Chri!l, or elfe I have no Faith in Chri!l:; I 1vill therefore premife thefe three things. · I. That afalfe, double, rreadierous,dilloyal heartro Chri!l: cannot expeCt t~ receive any thing it comes for unto Chrill. As 'ris with a Woman, that though others do not, yet her Husbmd knows ihe is fallen in lea~e with fome other man, he will be llrange to her, and will' not; do any t,hing for her. John z. ult. He k!feJP what wM in man; as 'ris in grafts, James 1. 7, 8. Lee not a double-minded man think eo receive any.thing at the hands of the Lord. For that is che narure of man under rbe power of any luH, it makes all ferve it, even Chrifl: hirnfelf, which he will never do, 1 am weary of your ne"' Moons , faith the Lord , and you falt,and pray, and have no anfwer, for you fall for Debate: and therefore I rake a man confidered as broken off from the power of his lu!l:s, not one chat feel s himfe!f underche power of it, for fuch an one may be delivered from it, fuch a foul as can fay, much ado have I had to feel my fin, and to be willing to part with ir, but now I am; here is the Sou! Ifpeak of. . 2. That the Lord in thedifpenfation of Grace to his people, is wholly free to give it whtn he will : for a man that works for his wages , mu{1: in juflice have bis wages when his work is done: but he that begs for his living muG9e content to !l:ay. vVe live by Faith, and free gift, not by w:Jrks and deferts,and h,ence mull: wait and !l:q, Mic. 7. 7. Hence ler not any man tbink fenfibly to recftive what he. goes for to the Lord Jefus prefently,as many feel a Wa\lt of Gra,re{ and chink the Lord hub promifed to help, and now how would it make for his honour to give, but find it not, and hence grow fad or difcour.1ged; and think it is in vain eo feek? no~ no,<_:hri{1:s hour is not yet ~ome,when you t~ink it is,John z:My h•ur u not7et. to~i; and hence many get nothmg betmfe they he oqt of the way of the Covenant,vl;o;. ro think, oh the Lord owes me nothing, and~ def~rve the contrary. . · 3· Th1r no man is ro look to receive all thatwl\i~h he comes to the lord for, F but
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