Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

there Gospel luminaries are to diffuse their Light; and there must we receive it, and know what is considerable, eligible, practicable, and encouraging to love, and to good Works. Why then should we forsake that?

3. But let us exhort, [each other;] •or consideration and attendance on Assemblies are for our own and others good; for personal and mutual quickenings, to Love to good works. I know that, [Greek or Hebrew], and thence [Greek or Hebrew], is sometimes used more largely, for any pleading of and pressing home a thing pursuant to it's import and design, whether by Counsel, Comfort, or sometimes it imports Consolation or Encouragement. This is too well seen, and known to need its Scriptural Instances and Quotations. That which is here intended, I offer in this Paraphrase. Draw forth all the Spirit and Strength, of what you know, and have advisedly considered as to your selves and others; of what you have seen and heard in your Assembling of your selves together, concerning your obligations to attend them, their fitness to advantage you, and all the benefit derived or derivable therefrom: Draw forth the vigour of all your received Discoveries, Directions, Assistances and Inducements to do, and be what is required and expected from you, ⟨image 155⟩professed by you, and of eternal Consequence and Concernment to you. Plead this throughly with your selves and one another, that so your Christian love be not extinguished or abated, but wrought and kept up to its genuine and just pitch of fervour and effectual Operations and Eruptions in Good works. Drive home upon your selves (by deep and serious thoughts, and pertinent applications of them to your selves, and warm debates about them with your selves) the things which God hath manifested and proposed to you as credible, acceptable and practically Improvable. He that expects this flame upon his heart must be a thoughtful man, severely contemplative and solicitous about the things of the Kingdom of God, and the Name and Interest, and Servants of the Lord Redeemer. How can that man be warm and active, or zealous of Good works, whose knowledge is not actuated by self-awakening Meditations; and whose furniture, Principles and Spirit are commonly neglected by himself? What! are divine Truths Laws, Promises and Institutions only to be with us, or in us, as empty Speculations, or thin Notions? Have Divine Revelations and Endearings no Errand to our Hearts and Consciences, and no business there, and no practical Vigours to be exerted thence? That thoughtless Idle Souls should be luke-warm is no such wonder or strange thing.