Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

And here I must premise, that the case here proposed to our present thoughts may and must be resolved into two. 1. How a luke-warm temper may be cured by us in our selves: 2. How to be cured in each other. Now seeing we are all related to the same God, and under the same circumstances as to our capacity of pleasing or displeasing God, of deserting or adhering to our Christian State and work; and all of us, as Christians, under the same powerful and manifold obligations to be found Right and Faithful in this day. And as all of us are determined to solemn Judgment, and an Eternal State, according to the temper of our Spirits, and tenor of our Lives, as found to be when that day comes. What can we say to one another, to provoke each other to love and to good works, that will not equally concern our selves? Whatever then we consider in each other, is as considerable in our selves. Whatever we design hereby to provoke others regularly to, is to be equally designed, and enterprized, and promoted upon our selves. Whatever we speak to others, or plead with others, hath the same Errand to, and ought deservedly to be as cogent and prevailing with our selves. We are all concerned in the helpfulness of present Assemblies, and in the process and results of the last general Assembly; and what we ⟨p. 323⟩propose or press by way of Counsel, Request, Encouragement, &c. must be as spoken to our selves. Taking it then for granted and concluded, and needless to be proved and demonstrated, 1. That luke-warmness is an heart-distemper. 2. And that the formal Nature of it lies in the remissness of due Affections unto their proper worthy objects: and so in too mean resentments, and distastings of whatever is contrary thereunto. 3. That the Cure of this Distemper formally consists in the due fervour of provoked Love, invigorating and producing its congenial Operations, and Effects (here called Good Works, which are but answerableness of Practice and Behaviour to this Principle, or Grace.) 4. And that all these means and courses which genuinely and statedly relate hereto as divinely instituted by him, whose Blessing is entailed hereon, to make them prosperous and successful hereunto, are the most likely means to work this Cure. 5. And that the purport of my Text amounts to this, and is it self of Divine Inspiration; and so of God's appointment for this End.