Then 1. saving influences in spiritual actings, in praying, praising, hearing, are mere delusions without this new habit, not the motions and actings of a living man from influence of life:1 But some cozeners by the art of Satan have made dead images to speak, but that speaking, or laughing, or weeping was but counterfeit, and from no kindly influence of life in the dead stone. The heavy elements move downward, and that from an inward principle of nature; but the motion of the wheels in a horse-mill is not from nature within, but from the beasts that draw the wheels; nor is the motion of the several pieces of the horologe from a principle of life, but from art. And the actings of men destitute of such a supernatural habit, suppose they give all their goods to the poor, and give their bodies to be burnt, yet are there no influences of the life of Christ in these actions, they come from composed art and industry of hypocrisy, custom, formality, and vain-glory, and such leave their name in the earth for a curse. Be not satisfied while the wind breaths out of the right air, even from a life of Christ, and from the head Christ. Christ lives in me, Gal. 2. and the actual influences of grace from above are suitable, having Christ living in you. Christ shall furnish wind and sweet breathings of the Spirit to his own life; it's a cursed case of conscience, when the man hath peace and ⟨p. 222⟩so much quietness as to be satisfied with, and to thank God for his formal fasting, and paying of his debts to all, Luke 18. 11. and such counterfeit influences please him all his life.
Then 1. saving influences in spiritual actings, in praying, praising, hearing, are meer delusions without this new habit, not the motions and actings of a living man from influence of life:1 But some cozeners by the art of Satan have made dead images to speak, but that speaking, or laughing, or weeping was but counterfeit, and from no kindly influence of life in the dead stone. The heavy elements move downward, and that from an inward principle of nature; but the motion of the wheeles in a horse-mill is not from nature within, but from the beasts that draw the wheels; nor is the motion of the several pieces of the horologe from a principle of life, but from art. And the actings of men destitute of such a supernatural habit, suppose they give all their goods to the poor, and give their bodies to be burnt, yet are there no influences of the life of Christ in these actions, they come from composed art and industry of hypocrisie, custome, formality, and vain-glory, and such leave their name in the earth for a curse. Be not satisfied while the wind breaths out of the right air, even from a life of Christ, and from the head Christ. Christ lives in me, Gal. 2. and the actual influences of grace from above are suitable, having Christ living in you. Christ shall furnish wind and sweet breathings of the Spirit to his own life; it's a cursed case of conscience, when the man hath peace and ⟨p. 222⟩so much quietness as to be satisfied with, and to thank God for his formal fasting, and paying of his debts to all, Luke 18. 11. and such counterfeit influences please him all his life.
- 1Vital actions flow from supernatural habits.
