Assert. 5. The same sun, the same air and heaven, send the same influences on the true and natural olive, and on the wild olive; the same clouds and rain act upon the vine-tree and the thorn-tree, upon the rose, and the briar, and the nettle; and so the same word comes to the ears of both elect and reprobate, but not the same quickening influences of grace upon both.1 Saul governs, and leads the Armies of the Lord by a gift; and David governs, feeds, and leads the Armies of the Lord by the grace of God, and the same word of command lays an obligation upon both; false Apostles preach Christ from a gift, and labour by a gift, but Paul labours not as Paul, but the grace of God in him.2 The virgins are drawn and run, Cant. 1. and John is drawn and runneth; but the same lively influences act not upon the one and other: it is a deluding conclusion, we have eaten and drunken where Christ was present, and his Saints present, therefore the Lord should open to us; and Christ hath preached and his faithful Prophets in our hearing, in our streets, therefore should we be admitted into the Bridegrooms chamber, Luke 13. 25. What can then be builded on this? I was at the Lords Supper, where undoubtedly Christ was in his influences of life; I did swear a covenant to God, I preached the Gospel, I heard ordinarily such a Preacher in whom undeniably the Spirit of God spoke, and was intimately acquainted with him, and loved him dearly, and shall that man be saved, and I thrust in hell? The great error is, men try not their ways, principles, motives, and ends.
Assert. 5. The same sun, the same air and heaven, send the same influences on the true and natural olive, and on the wild olive; the same clouds and rain act upon the vine-tree and the thorn-tree, upon the rose, and the briar, and the nettle; and so the same word comes to the ears of both elect and reprobate, but not the same quickning influences of grace upon both.1 Saul governes, and leads the Armies of the Lord by a gift; and David governes, feeds, and leads the Armies of the Lord by the grace of God, and the same word of command layes an obligation upon both; false Apostles preach Christ from a gift, and labour by a gift, but Paul labours not as Paul, but the grace of God in him.2 The virgins are drawn and run, Cant. 1. and John is drawn and runneth; but the same lively influences act not upon the one and other: it is a deluding conclusion, we have eaten and drunken where Christ was present, and his Saints present, therefore the Lord should open to us; and Christ hath preached and his faithful Prophets in our hearing, in our streets, therefore should we be admitted into the Bridegroomes chamber, Luke 13. 25. What can then be builded on this? I was at the Lords Supper, where undoubtedly Christ was in his influences of life; I did swear a covenant to God, I preached the Gospel, I heard ordinarily such a Preacher in whom undeniably the Spirit of God spoke, and was intimately acquainted with him, and loved him dearly, and shall that man be saved, and I thrust in hell? The great errour is, men try not their wayes, principles, motives, and ends.
- 1The same word, but not the same influences act upon all within the visible Church.
- 2We are not to rest upon the actings from a gift, but watchfully to try when we act from a gift, and when we act from a grace.
