for a time ofLiberty. the Prince fend to them, and they parliewith him, anti they are thankfull for his gifts, and glad of his parly; but yet notwithftanding, they are unwilling to receive the Prince,:witla all his power to come into the Town ; if they be unwilling to do that, and are loath to joyn fides againft the other party,they can him off from being King: So it is here, when men come to the Lord in Ordinances, the Lordhe parlies with them, the Lordhe fends promi- fes, and, they are marvellous precious things; and they have fome talk of what the Lord do's fend, and it is fweet to them ; But now, becaufe they have Tufts in their hearts; the Lord faith, makewarre againft thy luft, and open the gates that I may come in : If fo be, a man now out offecret love to his fin, he content himfelf with the promifes of Chrift ; but the life of Chrift, hecares not for that, he ufes not all means that he may find that, the fu- preme power of the Lord Jefus is now call off; and II know no difference between fuch a people and Caperna- um; they did enjoy the Gofpell of God, but now toen- tertain the Lord Jefus in his fpirituall power, this they were loath to come to; therefore, faith the Lord, lino to thee Capernaum; the mighty work ofJefus Chrift in their hearts, this they never cared for, Saith the Apoftle, 2 Cor. ro. 5. The weapons of our warfare, they are mighty through God. As poor things as you think the Ordinan- ces of the Lord to be, they are mighty through the Lord: When Chriflians fhall not be willing to receive this mighty power of the Lord Jefus Chrift truly, now the Kingdonae of Chrift is call off. John 6. 49. Tour fathers ate Manna in the Wilderneffe, and are dead, that was out- ward Manna ; hut he that eateth me, fhall live for ever. In one word thus; this is certain, a man never gets good by any Ordinance, nor the Lord Jefus Both never attain his end in any Ordinance, till there be an everla- fling power and life of Chrift Jefus communicatedby the Ordinance. There, faith he, God commandeth his bleging, pfd. life for evermore; mercy, for ever comforting; and light, for ever teaching; and humbling, for ever continuing : and a man will never think he doth receive anygood till he Both it. Forif a man be healed of his blindnef%; and be blind prefently again; what is he the better? So, ifa man bath fome fiafh of light in the Ordinance, bleffe the Lord for it. The Lord quickens up the heart to walk with the Lords1leffed be the Lord for h : Ay, 43 but 133. uttk; -,.i:-:,_.=;.:<
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