The souls exaltation A treatiseThe soules exaltation A treatise

Use 1 The first use is a word of exhortation, and it ought to provoke all you that are faithful, and are believers, to conform your hearts and conversations answerable to the heart and life of Christ: did not Christ give the least improvement of heart to any sin, nor practise the least sin in any measure? then go thou and do likewise, be thou like thy Saviour, that thou mayest have some evidence that thou hast a title unto him: It is that which the Apostle makes as a special collection, Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but be you followers of God as dear children: Ephes. 5.1. Christ had no sin, nor fellowship with sin; let his course and practice be thy copy: But some will say, what, would you have us to be Saints here on earth • how can it be that we should know no sin, when we have such a body of death hanging upon us? yes, we may know no sin, though it do hang about us: the Apostle doth not say, equal God in holiness, but imitate him; and he doth not say, follow him fully, but even as dear children: Now though the child cannot go so fast as the father, yet he will follow as fast as he can, and when he hath done what he can, then he cries to his father to help him, and carry him to the journeys end; and so ought we to do, nay so we will do, if we are true children and not bastards: the Father is infinitely full of holiness: Follow God as dear ⟨p. 161⟩children, do what you can and then •rie to him to enable you to do what you cannot do. It was the practice of the Prophet David, Psalm 63.1. My soul thirsteth for thee, and my heart longeth after thee: therefore in the 119. Psalm, 4, 5. Thou hast commanded to keep thy Commandments diligently, oh that my heart me• so directed tha• I might do it: as if he had said, I know the Law requireth it, and it is my duty to do it: help Lord, and take Lord, and carry Lord thy poor servant, and lead me into the land of righteousness; it is an evidence of one that is borne of God: