I beseech you in your daily practise all learn this, that you trust not too much to any outward performance, or task, to make Idols of outward things, people when they would change their dispositions, and be better, they take a great deal of p•ines in hearing, and reading, and praying,1 all these are things necessary, but they are dead things without the Spirit of Christ; therefore in the use of all those outward things, whatsoever they be, look up to Christ, that is, the quickening Spirit, that ⟨p. 592⟩sends the Spirit into our hearts, the Spirit must enliven and give vigour to all these things, and then somewhat will be done in religion, in hearing, and reading, and praying, and receiving the Sacrament; Therefore in all these look to the Spirit first; he laboureth in vain that relieth not wholly upon the Spirit of God, that trusts not to a higher strength than his own, it must be a higher strength than our own, that must work any good in our souls, either grace, or comfort, or peace, and therefore in the use of all things, as the proverb is, ⟨p. 593⟩oculos, ad coelum, &c. let the eye be to heaven, when the hand is at the stern at the same time, and then we shall be transformed, and changed by the Spirit of God. Know that in all means alway the spirit is the principle efficient blessing, cause of all, and therefore before we set upon any thing that is good,2 wherein we look for any spiritual good, desire God by his holy Spirit that he would •loath what shall be said; words are wind without the Spirit, the Spirit must go with the ordinances, as the Arteries go together with the Veins. You know in the Veins in the ⟨p. 594⟩body there are Arteries that go with them, they convey the spirits, the veins convey the blood, that is a dull thing without the Spirits of it self, if there were no Spirits in the Arteries, what would the blood in the veins be, nothing but a heavy uncomfortable humour, but the Arteries that come from the heart, the fountain of life, being joined, and conveying the spirits, they quicken the blood that comes from the Liver, so the veins and arteries join together to make the blood cheerful:
I beseech you in your dayly practise all learne this, that you trust not too much to any outward performance, or taske, to make Idols of outward things, people when they would change their dispositions, and bee better, they take a great deale of p•ines in hearing, and reading, and praying,1 all these are things necessary, but they are dead things without the Spirit of Christ; therefore in the use of all those outward things, whatsoever they be, looke up to •hrist, that is, the quickning Spirit, that ⟨p. 592⟩sends the Spirit into our hearts, the Spirit must enliven and give vigour to all these things, and then somewhat will be done in religion, in hearing, and reading, and praying, and receiving the Sacrament; Therefore in all these looke to the Spirit first; hee laboureth in vaine that relieth not wholly upon the Spirit of God, that trusts not to a higher strength than his owne, it must be a higher strength than our owne, that must worke any good in our soules, either grace, or comfort, or peace, and therefore in the use of all things, as the proverbe is, ⟨p. 593⟩oculos, ad coelum, &c. let the eye bee to heaven, when the hand is at the sterne at the same time, and then we shall be transformed, and changed by the Spirit of God. Know that in all meanes alway the spirit is the principle efficient blessing, cause of all, and therefore before we set upon any thing that is good,2 wherein we looke for any spirituall good, desire God by his holy Spirit that hewould •loath what shall be sayd; words are winde without the Spirit, the Spirit must goe with the ordinances, as the Arteries goe together with the Veines. You know in the Veines in the ⟨p. 594⟩body there are Arteries that goe with them, they convey the spirits, the veynes convey the blood, that is a dull thing without the Spirits of it selfe, if there were no Spirits in the Arteries, what would the blood in the veines be, nothing but a heavie uncomfortable humour, but the Arteries that come from the heart, the fountaine of life, being joyned, and conveying the spirits, they quicken the blood that comes from the Liver, so the veines and arteries joyne together to make the blood cheerefull:
- 1The Spirit quickens all ordinances.
- 2The Word and Spirit compared to the blood and arteries.The Word and Spirit compared to the blood and arterie•.
