The Godly Man's Picture

Object. No question this is an undoubted privilege to such as are smoking flax, and have the least beginnings of grace, but I fear I am not smoking flax, I cannot see the light of grace in my self?

Object. No question this is an undoubted priviledge to such as are smoaking flax, and have the least beginnings of grace, but I fear I am not smoaking flax, I cannot see the light of grace in my self?

Answ. That I may comfort the smoking flax, why dost thou thus dispute against thy self? What makes thee think thou hast no ⟨p. 340⟩grace? I believe thou hast more than thou wouldst be willing to part with; thou valuest grace above the gold of Ophir: How couldst thou see the worth and lustre of this Jewel, if Gods Spirit had not opened thy eyes? Thou wouldst fain believe, and mournest that thou canst not believe, are not these tears the Initials of Faith? Thou desirest Christ, and canst not be satisfied without him; this beating of the pulse evidenceth life: The iron could not move upward, if the Lodestone did not draw it; the heart could not ascend in holy breathings after God, if some heavenly Lodestone had not been drawing it. Christian, canst thou say sin is thy burden, Christ is thy delight? and as Peter once said, Lord, thou knowest I love thee: This is smoking flax, and the Lord will not quench it; thy grace shall flourish into glory; God will sooner extinguish the light of the Sun, than extinguish the dawning light of his spirit in thy heart.

Answ. That I may comfort the smoaking flax, why dost thou thus dispute against thy self? What makes thee think thou hast no ⟨p. 340⟩grace? I believe thou hast more than thou wouldst be willing to part with; thou valuest grace above the gold of Ophir: How couldst thou see the worth and lustre of this Jewel, if Gods Spirit had not opened thy eyes? Thou wouldst fain believe, and mournest that thou canst not believe, are not these tears the Initials of Faith? Thou desirest Christ, and canst not be satisfied without him; this beating of the pulse evidenceth life: The iron could not move upward, if the Loadstone did not draw it; the heart could not ascend in holy breathings after God, if some heavenly Loadstone had not been drawing it. Christian, canst thou say sin is thy burden, Christ is thy delight? and as Peter once said, Lord, thou knowest I love thee: This is smoaking flax, and the Lord will not quench it; thy grace shall flourish into glory; God will sooner extinguish the light of the Sun, than extinguish the dawning light of his spirit in thy heart.