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Show ·tbcfe three rules a ChritHan will be able to judg concerning the voice of the Preacher, whether it be the voice of Chrilt or no,· 2. But there is a fccond v'ict of Chrilf, which is from the Spirit nfChriJI, to the Spirit ofnCIJrijli.•n more immediately, by way of Impre!Jim and Su2gefliM. This alfo may be diffimb/ed, for the D"vil hath alfo a power to make Impreff10n upon,andSuggef\ions to our Spirit; and a man may have very llrong inclinationsofhis own Spirit, which he may miflake for lmpreffions of Gods Spirit, But an underltanding Chriftian, (as to thcfe alfo,) will know the voice of his Beloved ; will you know how ? I anfwer, I. Byc>mparillgthefelmpre!JiMs,Sugge{fiom,andM,tio> ts with tbe prmpts of Script 1m ; concerning the Spirit of God, our Saviour faith,He fh•U bring aU things to your r~membrance IJ>IJal{ nevrr I h•ve f.zid ttnto you, Job. I 4• i 6. ·and again 7•11n r6. 14. He fhall receive of mine, and (hew it to J'Oll. Hence let the child of God ~ave never fo llrong an lmpref!ion, Motion, or Suggejlion; if it be to do any tbi~tg which the word of God forbids any one to d•; u: at leaf! forbids him to do under thofe Circum fiances, and in that place and f!ation where he is fet: He crid out get .the'e beilind me S alan; he knows it is notthe voi~e of Chrifl : So if it be to leave undone, to neglect, or omit what Wthe ord of God plainly makes his duty, in his general calling, or particular relation , he concludes the like concerning it. Secondly, Whereas the voice of Chrill by his Spirit, doth not only fpcak by way of Exhortation to compel a Soul to duty , but alfo by way of Con{olatioH and Confirmation, (eating the love · of God to the Soul; and whereas, the Devil and the{4/fe Prophtt, and a mans own deceitful heart may alfo counterfeit this voice to the Soul. The Spoufe of Chrill under !lands the voice of Cbri~ here; the fame way as before. If the voice [tats a promife; the Soul knows it is the voice ofCbrijl. The prefumptuous Soul cries peace to it lelf: The falfe Prophet cries peace, the Devil cries 'Peace,. but none of all thefe confirm a promife to the Son!, they proclaim Peace but upon flO ground. The Spirit of God fpeaks peace ; but how ? concluding it from a promife. He that be/ieveJbjh> ll be Javed faith the Promife: Thou believefl; therefore thou (halt be faved, faith the Spirit. Thus now doth the Spoufe of Chrifl difcern its beloveds voice. But I have long enough dwelt upon this Propofitifiln,· Thus much may ferve for the firll part of rw.: Spoufes fpeech. The fecond yet remaineth. Cant. 2. 8. Behold! ' be c~metb, sl{jpping upaH the Mouutains,and leaping upon tl>e Htllr. I Am come to the fecood part of the Spoufes fpeech.; which I call'd the Spoufes difcover.v where I. noted three thmgs . . I. 1htthing difeovered. It IS thecomingofher beloved, becometh. 2. 'fbe "'~'"'"of his coming d.fcribed; sk}f11>ing "pon the Moun-tai~ r, &c. ' . bf< • 3. 'lhe note of auentioH by which (he calleth others too erve t.t. Behold r I obferved three Propofitions from thefc words. I begm with the firll of thefe. Chrijl is coming t~ his. Spot~{e. . You may obferve that. I. deliver the Propolition fo, as tHat It Prop. contains in it thefe two thurgs. . . I, '[bat althouth God may /or a time abfext btmje/ffrom hli peoplt, yet be wiD come again to them. . . . · . 2 That the time of his fray wtll not be long, he IS upon hts mar;h, be <ometh. For. the opening of the Propofitioo I !hall do . thefe things. · . b' l 1 Q!• In "'hat Jenfe il i<true tb3t Cbrijl',.,,U come to If peep e.. · Q Ho,., ·a¥d.iil "'h•t (en/e he m4J no"' be [aid to be co1t1ing. 2• u. W'bence iJ 11ppears, that be i1 comi11g, and that he will be Chortly 3· <2!!· with them. h' . 4· QJ. What improvement "'e may m•kt oft u N~"'"'· . . . In what fenfe it is true that, Chrift 11 commg to b1< pea-· p/e~hen I opened to you the firlt Propofition ofDochine which I obferved from this verfe 1 told you that the infinite dfence of God doth fill Heaven and Ea;th,and an infinite IJ:ace beyond both (fay the School-men) ancl.accordir.g to this, God IS alwa~ s eq~a~ly p~efent and with all perfons, and in all places~ Bu~ no~ this mfimte dfe:U:e of God is continually attended With an lnfimte Glory an~ Power &c. which God manife(\eth, both. a_s to the degree an_ mannc; differently as he pleafeth ; ~nd as he 1~ plea fed mo~e ::u~- ently to put forth the Glory of hrs MaJelly tn Hea vcn, lo e. ts n .. B b 2 more. |