Metaphor. | Parallel
Coals and Flames of Fire are of a burning and consuming Quality. | The Grace of Love kindled in the Soul of a Believer, burns up and consumes that inordinate Desire which is naturally in the Heart, after the Things and Vanities of this World; it eats up and consumes all carnal and sensual Lusts whatsoever; all fleshly and combustible Stuff, or Things that stand in the way, are burnt up and destroyed by it.
II. Coals and Flames of Fire are of a purging and purifying quality. | II. So the Grace of Love purgeth, cleanseth, and purifieth the Soul; the Dross and Filth of the Heart and Life being wasted away, a Christian is made holy, sanctified, and heavenly thereby.
III. Coals and Flames of Fire are of a melting and softening Nature; they make things tender and pliable, meet to receive the Impression of a Seal, &c. | III. So the Grace of Love softens the Heart, and melts it, making it pliable, and very fit and capable to receive the Impression and Divine Image of God.
IV. Some Fire is so vehement, that Water thrown upon it will not quench it, but rather cause it to burn more fierce and vehemently. | IV. The Grace of Love is of such a strong and vehement Nature, that it is impossible utterly to quench or extinguish it in the Soul, tho the Devil daily useth all his Strength and Skill to do it. Many ways he continually assaults Believers; when Temptations of one sort fail, he trieth others: he offers worldly Pleasures, Honours, Riches, yea, all the Goods (as I may say) of his House; but all is in vain, nothing will quench this Divine Flame; the true Christian utterly contemns him, with all he hath. The grand Design of Satan's courting a Man, with all his Offers, All this will I give thee, &c. is to gain his Love, or draw off his Affections from Jesus Christ. If this Way will not do, he tries another, and brings Afflictions and Crosses upon the Soul; but over these likewise is a Saint a Conqueror. Which makes the Apostle break forth into this holy Triumph: Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ? Shall Tribulation, or Distress, 1or Persecution, or Famine, or Nakedness, or Peril, or Sword? No, none of these things can: For I am persuaded, that neither Death, nor Life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor Powers, nor Things present, nor Things to come;
Metaphor. | Parallel
COals and Flames of Fire are of a burning and consuming Quality. | THe Grace of Love kindled in the Soul of a Believer, burns up and consumes that inordinate Desire which is naturally in the Heart, after the Things and Vanities of this World; it eats up and consumes all carnal and sensual Lusts whatsoever; all fleshly and combustible Stuff, or Things that stand in the way, are burnt up and destroyed by it.
II. Coals and Flames of Fire are of a purging and purifying quality. | II. So the Grace of Love purgeth, cleanseth, and purifieth the Soul; the Dross and Filth of the Heart and Life being wasted away, a Christian is made holy, sanctified, and heavenly thereby.
III. Coals and Flames of Fire are of a melting and softning Nature; they make things tender and pliable, meet to receive the Impression of a Seal, &c. | III. So the Grace of Love softens the Heart, and melts it, making it pliable, and very fit and capable to receive the Impression and Divine Image of God.
IV. Some Fire is so vehement, that Water thrown upon it will not quench it, but rather cause it to burn more fierce and vehemently. | IV. The Grace of Love is of such a strong and vehement Nature, th•t it is impossible utterly to quench or extinguish it in the Soul, tho the Devil daily useth all his Strength and Skill to do it. Many ways he continually assaults Believers; when Temptations of one sort fail, he trieth others: he offers worldly Pleasures, Honours, Riches, yea, all the Goods (as I may say) of his House; but all is in vain, nothing will quench this Divine Flame; the true Christian utterly contemns him, with all he hath. The grand Design of Satan's courting a Man, with all his Offers, All this will I give thee, &c. is to gain his Love, or draw off his Affections from Jesus Christ. If this Way will not do, he tries another, and brings Afflictions and Crosses upon the Soul; but over these likewise is a Saint a Conqueror. Which makes the Apostle break forth into this holy Triumph: Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ? Shall Tribulation, or Distress, 1or Persecution, or Famine, or Nakedness, or Peril, or Sword? No, none of these things can: For I am persuaded, that neither Death, nor Life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor Powers, nor Things present, nor Things to come;
- 1Rom. 8.35, 36, 37, 38.
