A62052:93
The pastors farewell, and wish of welfare to his people, or, A valedictory sermonThe pastors farevvell, and vvish of vvelfare to his people, or, A valedictory sermon
The pastors farewell, and wish of welfare to his people, or, A valedictory sermon by George Swinnock ...The pastors farevvell, and vvish of vvelfare to his people, or, A valedictory sermon by George Swinnock ...
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1662
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
All our power for sacred performances is wholly from another. Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing, 2 Cor. 3.5. To think ⟨p. 30⟩(we suppose) is an easy thing, but unless God help it is too hard for us; God gave Israel their Manna every day, or they could not have subsisted; God must give us fresh supplies of his spirit in every duty, or they cannot be rightly performed. The greatest fullness of a Christian is not the fullness of a fountain, but of a vessel; which because always is letting out, must be always taking in; The Conduit which is continually running, must be always receiving from the River. The Christians disbursements are great and constant, therefore such must his incomes from God be, or he will quickly prove a bankrupt.
All our power for sacred performances is wholly from another. Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing, 2 Cor. 3.5. To think ⟨p. 30⟩(we suppose) is an easie thing, but unless God help it is too hard for us; God gave Israel their Manna every day, or they could not have subsisted; God must give us fresh supplies of his spirit in every duty, or they cannot be rightly performed. The greatest fulness of a Christian is not the fulness of a fountain, but of a vessel; which because always is letting out, must be always taking in; The Conduit which is continually running, must be always receiving from the River. The Christians disbursements are great and constant, therefore such must his incomes from God be, or he will quickly prove a bankrupt.
Habitual grace it self lieth as water at the bottom of the pump, and cannot by all our labour be raised up, till God pour in his exciting grace. The flame doth not more depend upon the fire, then we upon God. Things that are weak, lean on that which is strong; the Wood-vine, not able to stand of it self clings about the hedge, or tree, and thereby gets to some height: the weakest will go to the walls if not protected.