Epiile ofs.Pgrv! to Titus. CHAP. I.I 54 Chrilt toldXathaniel, that he fawe him under the figge tree , where he thought hehad not: then could he lay , fisrey thou art the Sonne of God, the Kiwgof lfrael: even fo when thou findeft theword difcouering that in thee, which thou thoughtelt was hid from cucry eye thou maift fay, cutely this isthe wordofthe Sonneof God, herein it refembiethhim, it ftndech me out of my figge-lanes , and callethme out of my bullies where I hadhid my felfe. Thoumaief bebold to affirme; Sbreyhetis a Prophet of the Godof Ifrae!,that taudifcsuer the fecrets of the King ofSy- ria, and thewords which he f eaketh in his priait chamber : and as truely, this is a man ofGod, that can tell me the thoughtsand counfells which Itake in the molt priuy chamber of my foule: yea in the fecret and molt retired clofet of my heart. Many not acquainted with this lefl'on, formeand rage at the word when it prickech them, and thinke thatthe Preacher is informed, and beginne to fufpn&Come intelligencers : the truth is, we haue an intelligenter, euen a fpirit which goech after Ge- hezi,and llaieth by Ananias and Saphyra till their molt fecret conuey- ances bedifcouercd and reuenged , to whomday anddarkeneffe are a -' like; and for fuch let them in time beware to fpurne againft preuailing truth, leaf one day teach them to their colt, what it is to dtfpife fuch a wordas this is.. 4. ludgeof thy felfe andactions as chis word doth, that is, not accor- ding to thy flew in theworld, but according to thy purenelfe, or vn- cleannes before God, to whom apore man in his vprigbtne e , ìs better then afrowardperfon be beeneuerfo ricb,yeaapoore wife childmore accepted, then an olde foolifb King. This is the true(l touch-lone whence thou much iudge certenly of thy eftate, and not be deceiued. If this word reproouc , or approouc any of thywaies, or thy whole courle:thou mail} fafely pronounceof ir, Lord if I be deceived in this, thou and thy word harh deceiued me: and if by thy word I erre, I erre willingly : for I know that this is according to Gods judgement, andthat is according to truth, Rom.2.2. Dear. 2. We learne further, what is the elateof a man vn;egene- rate, whom the Apoille fetteth out thus. I. He is one that is vncleane: a. an vnbeleeuer : ;.one to whom nothing it pure : d. his reinde : 5. his confcienceis polluted : in all which rcfpe/Is, he is a molt odious perfon, inwome is nothingbut flthinefeof1$efb and[pipit, thewhich the pure ayes of the Lord cannot abide. All which will more cafily appeare, ifwe c.onlder, that by our fall we were not onely depriued ofthat grace and g.00dneswhich was let inour nature ; but there fucceeded a fowle and m.onflrous prauitie, andeuill, oppofed direaly to the former good, and that through the whole frame of the foule. The mind which as a V T pure ;I1 Id> t49. a.âin= 6.p. God inforsres his Miniftersof peoples tpeciat corruptions. Proa,18,6,. Themiferablt eliace ofa wia kcd man. a.C'nrqrMO4/. oMdr oaprde'ti RI14a/70t.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=