Influences of the life of grace

2. As to others, hardly see we what condition they are in; and because the smell of dead bones comes not through marble-stones in the Tomb, therefore the paintry of a profession satisfies us; yet it was not want of charity that made Micah 7. 2. say, The good man is perished out of the earth, and there is none upright among men; they lie in wait for blood. As now it's called morosity, rash judgment, to say that the generality of Ministers, and too many time-covenanters know little of any work of the Spirit on their hearts.

10 Divis. There are influences proper to the way to the Country, and influences proper to the end and to the Country; or influences of grace, and influences of glory. Influences for the way, though they come from Christ our life, yet for the most part they come by some means, the word,¹ the seals, prayer, faith in the promises: what influences they have who never heard the Gospel, but have the law of nature within, and book of creation and of providence without, by which they may read and spell a Godhead, and duties they owe to God Creator, is harder to determine: But they shall be witnesses to judge us, and shall justify Sodom, Matth. 10. 15. But did we read more, meditate more the covenant of grace, we should have more of the influences of grace: the influences of glory are the immediate and eternal out-lettings of God without word, or faith, or praying. The tree of life hath growing on it apples of life all the moments of the year; that is, a long summer, and a long year; the tree is ever green, ever blossoming, ⟨p. 217⟩eternally bearing fruit, and the inhabitants eternally feasting on the fruit. The river of life runs for ever and ever, flows eternally and never ebbs: they eternally drink in life and joy from him which sits upon the Throne, and the Lamb. So many millions of glorified ones as there are, so many eternal and immediate dependencies and living beams of glory united to the Son of righteousness: because Christ is our life,