8. Common Enlightenings work Terror, which may be at last drive the Soul further from God; as it is said of Cain, He went 1out from the Presence of the Lord: But special and saving Convictions, ⟨p. 330⟩cause the Soul to draw nearer to God in Jesus Christ: The one is like a Slave under the Rod, fain would get away from his Master; the other is like a Child under the Rod, that desires to see and behold his Father's reconciled Face and Favour. The common Illuminations wound, but the Soul sees not the Way of Cure, nor will he bear the Instrument which would let out the Life and Power of Sin, but perhaps catches up some thing or another to apply to his Sore, may be his changed Life, his Duties and good Deeds: from hence he hopes that his State is good, he being as he thinks not the Man he once was. But as he who is under special Illuminations, comes to be wounded, by beholding a bleeding Saviour, which is the alone way of Cure; so he chiefly desires that Faith, that Grace which will destroy the Life and Power of all Sin, and thoroughly cleanse and purify his Soul. Brethren, the Spirit of a Sinner may be torn into pieces by legal Terror, the Heart of Stone may be broken, and yet no Heart of Flesh be given; the Ground may be ploughed up in part, yet the Seed of Grace not sown in the Heart: Sensuality, saith one, may be kept down by a Spirit of Bondage, when it is not cast out by the Spirit of Adoption: They have the Law to convince them, but not Grace to renew them; it is not being once enlightened that is sufficient, unless truly enlightened; it is not great Knowledge, unless it be sanctified; it is not the fair Fruit of Reformation, nor Oil in the Lamp of the outward Life and visible Profession of Religion; it is not your seeming pious Duties nor legal Convictions that discover you to be a true Christian: no, nothing short of Union with Christ, and Faith that works by Love, avails any thing. 2Neither Circumcision, nor Uncircumcision, but a new Creature.
8. Common Enlightnings work Terror, which may be at last drive the Soul further from God; as it is said of Cain, He went 1out from the Presence of the Lord: But special and saving Convictions, ⟨p. 330⟩cause the Soul to draw nearer to God in Jesus Christ: The one is like a Slave under the Rod, fain would get away from his Master; the other is like a Child under the Rod, that desires to see and behold his Father's reconciled Face and Favour. The common Illuminations wound, but the Soul sees not the Way of Cure, nor will he bear the Instrument which would let out the Life and Power of Sin, but perhaps catches up some thing or another to apply to his Sore, may be his changed Life, his Duties and good Deeds: from hence he hopes that his State is good, he being as he thinks not the Man he once was. But as he who is under special Illuminations, comes to be wounded, by beholding a bleeding Saviour, which is the alone way of Cure; so he chiefly desires that Faith, that Grace which will destroy the Life and Power of all Sin, and thorowly cleanse and purify his Soul. Brethren, the Spirit of a Sinner may be torn into pieces by legal Terror, the Heart of Stone may be broken, and yet no Heart of Flesh be given; the Ground may be plow'd up in part, yet the Seed of Grace not sown in the Heart: Sensuality, saith one, may be kept down by a Spirit of Bondage, when it is not cast out by the Spirit of Adoption: They have the Law to convince them, but not Grace to renew them; it is not being once enlightned that is sufficient, unless truly enlightned; it is not great Knowledg, unless it be sanctified; it is not the fair Fruit of Reformation, nor Oil in the Lamp of the outward Life and visible Profession of Religion; it is not your seeming pious Duties nor legal Convictions that discover you to be a true Christian: no, nothing short of Union with Christ, and Faith that works by Love, avails any thing. 2Neither Circumcision, nor Uncircumcision, but a new Creature.
- 1Gen. 4. 16.
- 21 Cor. 7. 10. Gal. 5. 6. 1 Thess. 1. 3.
