Sibbes - Houston-Packer Collection BX9339.S5 B6 1641

that knocketh. 153 \ as fo many cords of love to draw her= fo here s~I wants neither loving carriage, fwec:t words, I I nor patience ~ It u the vo;ce "!my Beloved tht~t \ · .knocketh.j The Church as fhe takes notice of the voice of Chrifi, fo fhe cloth alfo of the meanes he ufeth, and feeth his love in them all. It is the veict if my Belovedthatknocketh, faying, opentome,&c. Here is alfo another difringuHhing note ofa found Chriftian from an unfound : A fandified Spirit fe~s C,hrifi in the. meanes,t~is is,fayes the ·heart,the word of Chnfi, aAd thts the mercy of Chrifi)to take fuch paines with my foul, to fend his Minifiers,to provide his Ordiaances,to give gifrs to men, and men to the Church. Jt is the Eph.i_..~ l. voice ofmy Beloved that knocketh. · But we muftefpecially underfiand it ofthe Mi– nifieriall voice, whereby Chrift cloth chiefly make W'J.Y tor himfelfe into the heart, and that by all kindof wayesdifpenfed therein ; as gifts ofall forrs,fome rougher,fome milder,all kinde of Methods and wayes in the Minefiery to make way for himfelfe : Firft of all, by the threatenings of the Law, ancl by terrowrs,as John was fent before Chrifi, and as the ftorm(l! went ' before the frill and calme voice, wherein God That Cbrifts knocFIIg u e(– pecialty by the ' Mmiflery of the word. came to EliM; fo heufeth all kindof courfes.in t Kin.tg.H. th~ Minifl:ery, and Minifiersby the direction of the Spirit turnethemfelves, as it were, into all . {hapes aAd failiions, both offpeeah and Spirit to winpeople~oGod,infomuch that God appeales eo them,What couldI have done morefor my churoh, ICa ~· r • I l , that I havenot done? ·There- .\

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