A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

Therefore now let me show, How doth God reduce and frame our Hearts to the Obedience of his Will? The Ways God useth are of two sorts, Moral and Real.

Therefore now let me shew, How doth God reduce and frame our Hearts to the Obedience of his Will? The Ways God useth are of two sorts, Moral and Real.

1. God works morally, so as to preserve Man's Nature, and the Principles thereof; therefore he works by sweet Inclination, not with Violence. So he comes with Blandishments, and comfortable Words; Hos. 2. 14. I will allure her, and bring her into the Wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. So, Gen. 9. 27. The Lord shall persuade Japheth, and he shall dwell in the Tents of Shem. By fair and kindly Words, he draweth on Men to the liking of the Gospel. He offereth no violence to our natural Principles, but to our Corruptions. God doth not make the Will to be no Will, but to be a good Will; He restoreth the Faculties to their right Use and Exercise; He layeth forth the Beauty and Excellency of his Grace, and a glorious Estate he sets before our Eyes, and •o out-bids Temptation, and draweth our Hearts to himself. And God not only doth work suitably to our general Nature, as we are ⟨p. 293⟩reasonable Creatures, but suitably to the particular Frame of the Heart. Some are of a stout and stubborn Temper, and will not be subdued by milder Means and Motives; therefore God breaks them with Fears and Terrors, and with a Spirit of Conviction: And others, he draws them on by Love, and by a gentle Application.

1. God works morally, so as to preserve Man's Nature, and the Principles thereof; therefore he works by sweet Inclination, not with Violence. So he comes with Blandishments, and comfortable Words;