Sibbes - Houston-Packer Collection BX9318.S45 L5 1638

Peace on Earth. 2. 63 Kíngdome of God is at hand: fo that except therebe _reconciliation wrought by a ,fpirit ofapplica® tion on mans part, it is not fuficient, that God is reconciled in Chrift:,:becaufen God will alway have a reflexaft from man as he choofeth man, I fo manbygrace choofethhim , as he loves and delights in man, lobewill have rnanby a fpirit offweetneífc,- delight in him againe above all theworld; Whomhave I in heaven but thee? fo there is .fome-what wrought by the Spirit to God againe. Why fhould . God be at good termes withus, but, toenjoy the friendibip ofhis poore creature ? unleffe therefore there be a gracious difpofìtion wrought in thecreature, to looke backe, to love, anddelight in God, as God doth in him; there is no a;tuall reconciliation, there mud: be a forcible application by the Spirit: if Godfhould not give a fpirit ofapplication, as well as Chrifiobtaineheaven for us ; thofe that are in the Covenant ofgrace,fhould not be flabhaled, but God by this meanes brings them fo neare, fthat he loving them , loves them for ever, and theyhave an everlaffing Covenanr,andan everla- flingunion. Thecarnall heartofman is a poyfon-. Mannaeuraily full thing,and hates Godnaturally, it wifhes that hates God. there were no God to judgehim ; he may thinke Weil ofGod, for the good things of this life, but when he thinkes ofGodas a judge, tocaft him intohell , he wifheth with all his heart ; oh that there wereno God , that I might have my full of the.pleafìrres offinne. Now the foule, when it is at peace with God, when God by his Spirit, l T 4-cakes

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