A30241:1461
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…
CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, or, Christs prayer before his passion explicated, and both practically and polemically improved by Anthony Burgess ...
London: printed by Abraham Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1656
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Sermon 56: That it's not enough to be put into a state of Grace, unless by Gods Power we are kept…
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.
Fifthly, The power of the Lord keeps us applicando, by an efficacious applying of the means of grace to us. For when we say, God's power keeps us in grace, that is not to be understood immediately, as Angels in Heaven are kept, but mediately by the Word and Ordinances. Therefore the organical and instrumental cause of our conservation is the word of God, as our Saviour afterwards prayeth, God would sanctify them by his truth, his Word was truth: So that this makes much for the advancement of Christs Ministry, and the Gospel preached, for by the lively working of these, we come to stand fast. These are the continual rubbings that keep heat in us: These are the Cocks that crow, to put us in mind of our sins: These are the frequent alarms against our spiritual enemies, that they surprise us not in our security.
Fifthly, The power of the Lord keeps us applicando, by an efficacious applying of the means of grace to us. For when we say, God's power keeps us in grace, that is not to be understood immediately, as Angels in Heaven are kept, but mediately by the Word and Ordinances. Therefore the organical and instrumental cause of our conservation is the word of God, as our Saviour afterwards prayeth, God would sanctifie them by his truth, his Word was truth: So that this makes much for the advancement of Christs Ministery, and the Gospel preached, for by the lively working of these, we come to stand fast. These are the continual rubbings that keep heat in us: These are the Cocks that crow, to put us in minde of our sinnes: These are the frequent alarms against our spirituall enemies, that they surprize us not in our security.
Sixthly, The power of God keeps us corroborando, by strengthening and fortifying the powers of the Soul while they do work. A man that is paralytical, though he hath life in him, yet cannot steadily and firmly move the parts of his body, but they shake as if they did not belong to the body: Thus even while the people of God are acting, and working what is good, they do it so remissly, so faintly, that did not the Lord confirm them, all their duties would be very uncomfortable to them. Hence Paul so often prayeth, That God would strengthen and settle them, that he would establish and build them on the work. It's a blessed thing to walk in the paths of godliness, with an emboldened and confirmed heart.