1. I call it the [Acting of them] for it is▪ Action that we are directing you in now, and not relations or dispositions yet these also are necessarily presupposed: It must be a soul that is qualified for the work, by the supernatural renewing grace of the spirit, which must be able to perform this Heavenly exercise. Its the work of the Living, and not of the dead. Its a work of all others most spiritual and sublime, and therefore not to be well performed by a heart that's merely carnal and terrene. Also they must necessarily have some relation to heaven, before they can familiarly there converse: I suppose them to be the sons of God, when • persuade them to love him: and to be of the family of God, ye• the spouse of his Son, when I persuade them to press into his presence, and to dwell with him: I suppose them to be such as have title to Rest, when I persuade them to rejoice in the Meditation of Rest. These therefore being all presupposed, are not the duty here intended and required: But it is the bringing of their sanctified dispositions into Act, and the delightful reviewing of thei• high relations: Habits and Powers are but to enable us to Action To say [I am able to do this, or I am disposed to do it] doth neither please God, nor advantage our selves, except withal we really do it. God doth not regenerate thy soul, that it may be able to know him, and not know him▪ or that it may be able to believe and yet not believe; or that it may be able to love him and yet not love him: But he therefore makes thee able to know to believe, and love, that thou mayest indeed both know, believe and love him. What good doth that power which is not reduced into Act? Therefore I am not now exhorting thee, to be an able Christian, but to be an Active Christian, according to the degree of that ability which thou hast. As thy store of money, or food, o• raiment, which thou lettest lye by thee and never usest, doth the• no good, but to please thy fancy, or raise thee to an esteem in the eyes of others; so all thy gifts, and powers, and habits which lye still in thy soul, and are never Acted, do profit or comfort thee little or nothing, but in satisfying thy fancy, and raising thee to the repute of an able man, so far as they are discernible to the standers by.
1. I call it the [Acting of them] for it is▪ Action that we are directing you in now, and not relations or dispositions yet these also are necessarily presupposed: It must be a soul that is qualified for the work, by the supernatural renewing grace of the spirit, which must be able to perform this Heavenly exercise. Its the work of the Living, and not of the dead. Its a work of all others most spiritual and sublime, and therefore not to be well performed by a heart that's meerly carnal and terrene. Also they must necessarily have some relation to heaven, before they can familiarly there converse: I suppose them to be the sons of God, when • perswade them to love him: and to be of the family of God, ye• the spouse of his Son, when I perswade them to press into his presence, and to dwell with him: I suppose them to be such as have title to Rest, when I perswade them to rejoyce in the Meditation of Rest. These therefore being all presupposed, are not the duty here intended and required: But it is the bringing of their sanctified dispositions into Act, and the delightful reveiwing of thei• high relations: Habits and Powers are but to enable us to Action To say [I am able to do this, or I am disposed to do it] doth nei•ther please God, nor advantage our selves, except withal we really do it. God doth not regenerate thy soul, that it may be able to know him, and not know him▪ or that it may be able to believe and yet not believe; or that it may be able to love him and yet not love him: But he therefore makes thee able to know to believe, and love, that thou mayest indeed both know, believe and love him. What good doth that power which is not reduced into Act? Therefore I am not now exhorting thee, to be an able Christian, but to be an Active Christian, according to the degree of that ability which thou hast. As thy store of money, or food, o• rayment, which thou lettest lye by thee and never usest, doth the• no good, but to please thy fancy, or raise thee to an esteem in the eyes of others; so all thy gifts, and powers, and habits which lye still in thy soul, and are never Acted, do profit or comfort thee little or nothing, but in satisfying thy fancy, and raising thee to the repute of an able man, so far as they are discernable to the standers by.
