A29696:830
London's lamentation, or, A serious discourse concerning the late fiery dispensation that turned our…
London's lamentation, or, A serious discourse concerning the late fiery dispensation that turned our (once renowned) city into a ruinous heap also the several lessons that are incumbent upon those whose houses have escaped the consuming flames / by Thomas Brooks.
London: printed for John Hancock and Nathaniel Ponder, 1670
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Thirdly, In acting your graces in all the duties of the day. Sleepy habits will do you no good, nor bring God no glory: §3all the honour he hath, and all the comfort and advantage 1you have, is from the active part of grace: and therefore you must still be a stirring up the grace of God that is in you, 2 Tim. 1. 6. Stir up the gift of God that is in thee. I know the Apostle speaks of the Ministerial gift: but it is as true of the work of grace: for the Greek word [Greek or Hebrew]. signifies grace, as well as gift. Stir up the grace of God in thee. Mark the phrase, it is a remarkable phrase: for in the Original it is to blow up thy grace, [Greek or Hebrew], just as a man blows up a fire that grows dull, or is hid under the ashes: blow up the grace of God in thee. Some think, that it is a Metaphor taken from a spark kept in ashes, which by gentle 2blowing, is stirred up till it take a flame. Others say, it is an allusion to the fire in the Temple, which was always to be kept burning. Look as the fire is increased and preserved by blowing; so are our graces preserved and increased by our acting of them. We get nothing by dead and useless habits: Talents hid in a Napkin, gather rust. Look, as the noblest faculties are embased, when they are not improved, when they are not exercised. So the noblest graces are embased, when they are not improved, when they are not exercised. Grace is bettered and made more perfect, by acting: neglect of our graces, is the ground of their decrease and decay. Wells are the sweeter for drawing: and so are our graces for acting. We had need pray hard with the Spouse, Cant. 4. ult. Awake O North wind, and come thou South, blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out: let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruit. Satan's grand design, is not to keep men from going the round of duties, nor yet to keep men from attending on Ordinances, but his grand design, is to ⟨p. 239⟩hinder the exercise of grace. All other exercises without the exercise of grace, will do a Christian no good; as you may see