Sibbes - Houston-Packer Collection BX9339.S5 B6 1641

andcome,O Soueh: loofe all kind of winds at his pleafure, then if means be wantingor fruitldfe; It i6 he thatfoyes ~~ to the clouds,·drop not, and to the winds blow not; . Therefore, we muft acknowledge him in want or plenty of rneanes.The Spirit ofchriff in the ufeof means is a ftee agent, fometimes blowes firongly,fometimes more mildly, fomtimes not at ~11, no creature hat a thefe winds in a bag <lt command;and therefore it is lvifedome to yeeld to the gales of the Spirit, though in fomeother things(assolomon obferves)it may hindertoob- Eccl. 11 • 4 • ferve the winds~ yet here it is necdfaryand pm. fi rable to obferve the winds of the Spirit. Now fo-r the cleare nndedl:anding ofwhat we are to fpeake of, let us firfi obferve, 1. Why the Spirit ofGodin theufe of the meanes is comp~tredts Jvind. And theri, 2. Why the church i>s compared to a Garden : In what Re· · l · h tt.~1 b h dl d · h 1jpech the SpiW uc ur" e . an e mt e proper pace. rit ofGodu But firfr for the wind. · compared t~ I . The windbloweth whereit lifleth,as itis,Ioh.3.8. wind. ,. So theSpirit ofGqd blowes fresly, andope– neth the heart of fome, ~nd powreth grace plentifully in them. - 2. 1hewinde (ej}ecially tlle North-winde) bath a cleanflng force; fo the Spirit ofGod putgeth · our h~arts.ftom dead werks to ferve tbe living God, making us partakersof the divinenature, 2 Pet I. " 3. The winddijperfeth, and {catterethclouds, and 1iMkes a fe renity in the ayre. So cloth the Spirir difpe1'fe fuch clouds, as corruption and Satan ·raife I I ·;

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