2. This is that I mean, That after Conversion God still concurreth; He doth not only give Grace, but actual Help in the Work of Obedience: He worketh all our Works in us. Isa. 26. 12. His actual Help is necessary to direct, quicken, strengthen, protect and defend us. To direct us: Psal. 73. 24. Thou shalt guide me by thy Counsel, and bring me to thy Glory. In our way to Heaven, we need not only a Rule and Path, but a Guide. The Rule is the Law of God, but the Guide is the Spirit of God. To quicken and excite us by effectual Motions. A Drowsiness and a Deadness is apt to creep upon our Hearts, and we see in the same Duty, it is a hard matter to keep up the same Frame of Spirit, the same Vigour of Affection, Life, and Warmth; and therefore we had need go to God often, as David, Psal. 119. 37. Quicken thou me in thy Way. It is God which doth renew the Vigour of the Life of Grace upon all occasions, when it begins to languish and droop. To corroborate and strengthen what we ⟨p. 281⟩have received. Ephes. 3. 16. the Apostle prays there, that he would strengthen with might by his Spirit in the inner Man; and, 1 Pet. 5. 10. Make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. There are many Words heaped up there, to show, how God is interested in maintaining and keeping afoot that which he hath planted in the Soul. In protecting and defending them against the Incursions and Assaults of the Devil, who always lieth in wait to surprise the Soul, to withdraw us from God. The Regenerate are not only escaped out of his Clutches, but are advanced and appointed to be Satan's Judges, which an envious and proud Spirit cannot endure, therefore he maligns, assaults, and besiegeth them with Temptations daily. Now it is God that defends; John 17. 11. Keep through thine own Name, those whom thou hast given me: By thy Name, that is, by thy Power.
2. This is that I mean, That after Conversion God still concurreth; He doth not only give Grace, but actual Help in the Work of Obedience: He worketh all our Works in us. Isa. 26. 12. His actual Help is necessary to direct, quicken, strengthen, protect and defend us. To direct us: Psal. 73. 24. Thou shalt guide me by thy Counsel, and bring me to thy Glory. In our way to Heaven, we need not only a Rule and Path, but a Guide. The Rule is the Law of God, but the Guide is the Spirit of God. To quicken and excite us by effectual Motions. A Drousiness and a Deadness is apt to creep upon our Hearts, and we see in the same Duty, it is a hard matter to keep up the same Frame of Spirit, the same Vigor of Affection, Life, and Warmth; and therefore vve had need go to God often, as David, Psal. 119. 37. Quicken thou me in thy Way. It is God vvhich doth renew the Vigor of the Life of Grace upon all occasions, when it begins to languish and droop. To corroborate and strengthen vvhat vve ⟨p. 281⟩have received. Ephes. 3. 16. the Apostle prays there, that he would strengthen with might by his Spirit in the inner Man; and, 1 Pet. 5. 10. Make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. There are many Words heaped up there, to shew, how God is interested in maintaining and keeping afoot that which he hath planted in the Soul. In protecting and defending them against the Incursions and Assaults of the Devil, who always lieth in wait to surprize the Soul, to withdraw us from God. The Regenerate are not only escaped out of his Clutches, but are advanced and appointed to be Satan's Judges, which an envious and proud Spirit cannot endure, therefore he maligns, assaults, and besiegeth them with Temptations daily. Now it is God that defends; Iohn 17. 11. Keep through thine own Name, those whom thou hast given me: By thy Name, that is, by thy Power.
