I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Answ. 3 If our Parts and Gifts do not commend our services and duties, unto God, then have you no reason to be discouraged for the want of them. Now, so it is, that they do not commend us, nor our services unto God. When you have good meat in a dish, possibly you will lay flowers upon it, cut Oranges and Lemons, and lay upon the side of the dish; but a wise man knows, that the meat is never the better for tho e flowers, or for the sugar that lies on the side of the platter; a wise man knows, that if those were wanting, the meat were never the worse. Beloved! God our Father is of infinite wisdom, these Parts and Gifts are flowers indeed, and they help to cook ou• a duty, and to make it more acceptable to men, but the Lord who is wisdom knows, that the duty is never the be•ter; and he knows, that when these flowers are wanting, the duty is never the worse. All flesh is grass, and the flower thereof, and it fades away. Parts and Gifts are but flesh; and our wise God knows, the •eat is never the worser, when these flowers are wanting. Yea, if I had all Parts and all Gifts, that I were able to preach and speak like an Angel; and that I were able to cast out Devils; yet notwithstanding, if I have not ⟨p. 96⟩Christ and Grace within, my Parts and Gifts, will but sink me deeper into Hell. Two men (suppose) do fall into the River, one man hath bag• of Gold about him, and the other none; he that hath none, makes a shift to swim, and get away; but he that hath the bags of Gold about him, sinks by his Gold, and he cries out as he sinks, O! take away these bags of Gold, this Gold undoeth me, this Gold sinks me. So, these Golden Parts, and Golden Gifts, if a man hath not Grace withal, hath not Christ within, shall but sink him the deeper into Hell: These commend us not, I say, nor our Service unto God, nor doth the want thereof discommend us unto him.

Answ. 3 If our Parts and Gifts do not commend our services and duties, unto God, then have you no reason to be discouraged for the want of them. Now, so it is, that they do not commend us, nor our services unto God. When you have good meat in a dish, possibly you wil lay flowers upon it, cut Oranges and Lemons, and lay upon the side of the dish; but a wise man knowes, that the meat is never the better for tho e flowers, or for the sugar that lies on the side of the platter; a wise man knowes, that if those were wanting, the meate were never the worse. Beloved! God our Father is of infinite widom, these Parts and Gifts are flowers indeed, and they help to cook ou a duty, and to make it more acceptable to men, but the Lord who is wisdom knowes, that the duty is never the beter; and he knows, that when these flowers are wanting, the duty is never the worse. All flesh is grass, and the flower threof, and it fades away. Parts and Gifts are but flesh; and our wise God knows, the eat is never the worser, when these flowers are wanting. Yea, if I had al Parts and al Gifts, that I were able to preach and speak like an Angel; and that I were able to cast out Devills; yet notwithstanding, if I have not