Fourthly, this choiceness of spirit causeth a suitableness, a sympathy 1between the frame of the heart, and the ways of holiness: Now sympathies first, are always between the general natures of things, and not individuals, not particulars; as thus, where there is a sympathy between one creature and another, it is always between the whole kind of those creatures; wheresoever such Natures are found, there will be this agreement. We may see it more clearly in that which is contrary; that contrariety of nature which we call Antipathy, it is not between any particulars so much, as between the ⟨p. 409⟩whole natures of things; as between the Wolf & the Sheep, there is such a contrariety: Now the nature of the Wolfe is not contrary so much to any particular sheep, but to the whole nature of sheep, wheresoever the nature of it is found, and therefore to all sheep; Thus it is in the soul, where there is such a kind of opposition of it against sin, it is not against any particular sin so much, as against the whole nature of sin, wheresoever it is; so where there is such an agreement, which we call a sympathy, it is not so much with any particular way of holiness, or particular Act, but with the whole nature of holiness, wheresoever it is found, and therefore such a soul must needs follow God fully. Again, sympathies do always work without labour and pain, and therefore where there is such an agreement between the frame of the heart, and the ways of God, the heart must needs work fully, because it works delightfully: and yet further, this agreeableness ⟨p. 410⟩of sympathy is deeply rooted in the very principles of the creature, it is founded in the very being of it, and therefore it must needs work strongly and constantly. Vain reasonings, carnal objections, subtle arguments, strong oppositions can never prevail against that soul, where there is this deep-rooted agreeableness between the frame of it, & the ways of holiness. But that you may see further what a wonderful agreeableness Grace makes between the spirits of the godly, and the Law of God, which is the rule of those ways wherein God would have the soul to follow him in: observe the several expressions by which the Scripture sets it out.
Fourthly, this choicenesse of spirit causeth a suteablenesse, a sympathy 1between the frame of the heart, and the wayes of holinesse: Now sympathies first, are alwayes between the generall natures of things, and not individuals, not particulars; as thus, where there is a sympathy betweene one creature and another, it is alwayes betweene the whole kind of those creatures; wheresoever such Natures are found, there will be this agreement. Wee may see it more clearely in that which is contrary; that contrariety of nature which wee call Antipathy, it is not betweene any particulars so much, as betweene the ⟨p. 409⟩whole natures of things; as between the Wolf & the Sheep, there is such a contrariety: Now the nature of the Wolfe is not contrary so much to any particular sheep, but to the whole nature of sheepe, wheresoever the nature of it is found, and therefore to all sheep; Thus it is in the soule, where there is such a kinde of opposition of it against sinne, it is not against any particular sinne so much, as against the whole nature of sinne, wheresoever it is; so where there is such an agreement, which wee call a sympathie, it is not so much with any particular way of holinesse, or perticular Act, but with the whole nature of holinesse, wheresoever it is found, and therefore such a soule must needs follow God fully. Againe, sympathies doe alwayes worke without labour and paine, and therefore where there is such an agreement betweene the frame of the heart, and the wayes of God, the heart must needs worke fully, because it workes delightfully: and yet further, this agreeablenes ⟨p. 410⟩of sympathie is deepely rooted in the very principles of the creature, it is founded in the very being of it, and therefore it must needs worke strongly and constantly. Vaine reasonings, carnall objections, subtill arguments, strong oppositions can never prevaile against that soule, where there is this deeprooted agreeablenesse betweene the frame of it, & the wayes of holinesse. But that you may see further what a wonderfull agreeablenesse Grace makes betweene the spirits of the godly, and the Law of God, which is the rule of those wayes wherein God would have the soule to follow him in: observe the severall expressions by which the Scripture sets it out.
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