Ver. 14. the Epi file to the Romans. 271 ter part of the former verfe, namely, that they (hall live eternally in glory,if they do mortifie the deeds of the body. This is proved by a reafon drawn fro the efficient caufe,to wir,from the right offons after this fort: Eons and heires of their fathers goods, even of eternal! life in . heaven, verfe 1.7. but the belee- ving Romans, and all other the faithful which live holy, are the Eons of God, verf.. 14.16. therefore all fuch as lead a holy life, (hall live for ever with God. T 1 M. Tut how loth the Apofile prove, that heleevers which endeavour to mortifie their ftnnesand live hólily, are Gods fins? S 1 L. By three arguments: Firfi,be- caufe they are led by theSpirit. Second- ly, becaufe they call upon God,as upon a Father,v.15.Thirdly,becaufethe Spi- rit of God,and their own fan &ified con - fcience do fo witnefi unto them; Roni. 8.16. and in the mouth of two, or three witneffes every word is confirmed. Tin. Now fhewus what is the pm of this 14, verfe? Thefpirieop Si L. It is this : Such as mortifie the Adoppdon is pecuitanm., deeds of the body, they are the funs of toehiWre* God, becaufe they are led by the Spirit Gu'` 4' of God,and therefore fhall live for ever. T 1 M .Let ue nowcometo interpret tbeword t, and tell uc here what is meant by the Spirit. S I L. The operation and work of the Spirit is here called the fpirir, by a !Me- tonymic ofthecaufe for the effe&. Ti M.What if it to be[Ledby theSpirit ?] Si L It a word borrowed from the blind that cannot fee she'll. way, but muff have one. to lead them : or from the lame that cannot go but muff have one to help them : or from Infants and young children, which can very hardly go without another to lead them. TIM. *bat are we to gather from hence? S 1 L. It doth'warn all Gods children, óf their natural! weaknefs, and extream mifery : Firfi, in that we are blind, and having no light in our felves, as it is written, The natural! man perceiveth not the things ofGod. s Cor.2.14. Secondly, it appears in this;that being regenerate, yet we have no more knowledge then that we receive from Gods Spirit teach- ing us: This made the Prophet to cry, O Lord open mineeyes, or, O Lordgive me eondrfianding, Pfa1.110 18. Thirdly.in this, that regenerate men (}ill are Iike ra;, Babes, which have continual! need of the goverpment of the Spirit ,- to lead m the the way unto Gods Kingdome. T I M. To what purple ferverh the knolvledge of this Our mifrry and weabelle? S t L. Firf, for the humbling and to the taking down ofour proud hearts, from afcribing any thing to our own wit or frength in the matter ofpleaftng God. Secondly, to provoke the godly unto carnet/ prayer,that they may have the condu& and leading of the Spirit, which is fo needful! for them, as with- out the which, they can never be able to fee one ftep in their way, or to let one foot forward, no moire then blinde men or little children. TIM. Futtell utnowdiffinîllybywhat waies means doth theSpirit lead the godly? S i L. Not by a generali motion,fuch as all creatures in heaven and earth are moved by ; nor yet by any violent im ppulfion againf our wils, as-if we were flocks and logs, but by an efpeciall grace effe&ually flirring and perfwading them to fuch things as they being alrea- dy renewed willingly delire to do: Tim. What things loth this efpeciallgrace workjn them,mhen it furs them up to things defired of them, and pleading to God? S I L. Three things;firff,is informa- tion or inflru &ion outwardly given by the Word, concerning things agreeable to Gods wil. Secondly, an illumination from theSpirit to fee and know fuch in- firu&ions to be frómGod himfelf.Third- ly,inclination & bowing of the will vo- luntarily to wil,andreadily to obey filch divine infiru &ions.For as thefpiiric doth not enlighten us, but by the Word eat - pounded and opened: fo it is in vain to know what we ihould do by the light of the Spirit and Word, unlfs will and firength be given us to do it.And it were not enough to have wil and firength gi- ven us to do it,if we want knowledge of that which we are to do.Thereforeun- to leaditig,thefe 3 things are neceffary: firl,to be inflru led bythe word.Second- ly,to be enligh teed by the Spirit in our Aa 3 minder.
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