;

(1) Aidonari. Διδασκαλί ας προοίμιον ὧν τις indian S.Bafil. bom.24. ̓Αμήχανον γ' ά τις Hva diεTai TaŬTα ästadz Mardavery Arrian.l.2.17.

Part. I. er, whenever we come to hear the Word of God, we will open it more particularly, that we may fee how the Spirit affifts us, in order to our Proficiency thereby. I. Lo hear meekly thy o2d, although the Word of God be able to fave our Souls, yet not unless it be heard with meekness, James i.2 1. and it is the meek and lowly whom God hath promised to teach,Pfal.xxv.9. The first introduction of knowledg is the apprehention of our ignorance (+), and it is abfurd to go about to teach a man that which he fancies he knows before. We are generally apt without grounds to imagine, that we are wife and good enough, that we know more and live better than really we do; and nothing makes us more unteachable, and hinders our progrefs more than these vain conceits: He therefore who hath fuppreffed them fo far as to hear Gods Word meekly, hath made a good encrease in Grace, for he hath difcovered his own ignorance, who is willing to be inftructed; he hath repented of his fins, who is humble,when he is reproved,and thankful when he is exhorted to amendment: He hath begun to love his Duty,who fubmiffively receives directions and admonitions to proceed: So that if we can obtain Encreale of our 2ace from God, this will be the first evidence and happy effect thereof, that we shall have an humble heart and a meek Spirit, we fhall put on a tratable temper, and become very defirous of Inftruction, eafy to be perfwaded, willing to be reproved, and apt to follow our heavenly Guide; we fhall reverently and quietly fit down at the feet of Jefus and his Minifters, and readily learn the Leffons, which we are taught in the School of Grace, and this is a good step towards ever

lafting

lafting Life, and if we have proceeded thus far no doubt we shall go on. II. To receive it with pure affecion; The humble Scholar learns with no other designs than to encrease his skill, and when our minds are made plyant by meekness,our affections will more eafily be purified, and then there is nothing to hinder our bringing forth fruit. St. James hath taught us, that we mult lay aside all superfluity of naughtiness, as well as hear with meekness, if we expect to be saved by the Word of God, James i.2 1. And Jeremy faith the same thing in a Metaphor, That we must not fow among Thornes, Jer. iv.3. that is, not fuffer the good feed of Gods word to be choked with impure affections, Luke viii.14,15. For the Love of the World,and the Defires after evil things will make it become altogether unfruitful; if the Velfel be tainted into which we receive this water of Life, it will communicate its corrupt favour to it. The Affecions are thofe powers of the Soul, by which we receive any thing into the nearest Unions with us, fo that if they have entertained impure guests, and filled us already with Luft or Covetoufnels, Ambition or Envy, c. there will be no room for the pure Word of God, we cannot love that,and thefe evil things at once. The affections are the very eyes with which the Soul fees, and by which the judgeth of all Objects; fo that if these be diftempered, they will reprefent all things falilly, Evil will be fhewed us for Good, and Good as Evil, Sin is welcomed into fuch Hearts, but the pure Word of God is hated and excluded, for impure affections alienate mens minds from Divine Truths. Every piece of Gods Law (faith devout St.Salvian)finds Enemies,if he command Bounty the covetous is angry, if thirst the prodigal is difpleafed the wicked account Holy Writ to be their foebut the Caufe of this enmity is in themselves,the ground of this difdain is not in the Precepts of the Law, K 4

Part.I.but in their own affections, for the Law is good, but their inclinations are evil. He therefore that hath pure affections is a great Proficient in Grace,and in all imaginable probability will ftill improve by the means of Grace; for if our affections be clear of all filthy and impure Loves, we fhall (no question)discern the beauty of Gods holy Word, we fhall admire and love it,receive it with delight, and clofe with it as the most excellent rule in the World. Whatsoever our affections receive,the Understanding ftudies on it, the Will embraceth it, and all the Powers of the Soul and Body are ready to be guided by it.So that pure affections are the dinate funt virtutes. beginnings of all vertue (+): Yet it is not a little Grace, that will purifie our affections, they are naturally fo full of impurity,and fo ftrangely misplaced:Let us then pray,that we and all Gods people may have a great encrease of Grace, till we be prepared with pure minds to receive his Holy Woo, and then we thall entertain it with Love and Joy,admiration and delight,hopes and defires, futing it's true and real worth, and not only fo but it will make us

(1) Affectiones or

Gerfon

III. To bring forth the fruits of the Spirit: Who did ever know a foil fo prepared, and fowed with fo excellent feed,to fail? And this is the great end,why God gives Entreale of Grace, and why he purgeth us that we may bring forth much fruit, John xv.2.This is an infallible Demonftration, a visible proof that we have received abundance of Grace, when we bring forth thefe fruits.Now what thefe fruits of the Spirit are (to which this Petition doth refer) we are taught by St.Paul, Gal. v.22,23. The fruit of the Spirit,faith he, is love, joy,peace, long-fuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.That is all excellent vertues and acts of Piety, 1.As to God, Love of him, joy in him,and peace with

him. 2. As to our Neighbour, long fuffering, when he injures us, gentleness,when he would be reconciled, goodnefs, when he needs our help, faith, that is fidelity,when he trufts us.3. As to our felves, meekness in the thoughts of our hearts, and temperance in the actions of our lives. These are the fruits, which Gods word with his grace do bring forth, and oh how happy is he, who is thus qualified! He shall be beloved by God, dear to good Men, a bleffing to all while he lives, and happy for ever when he dyes; and what can we defire more? It is not a few fair words, or plaufible pretences, it is not a Complement, and a commending the Minifter, which God and we expect, these are but leaves (u), it is real fruits which we long to fee And alass what pity is it to fee fo many Labourers taking pains, and fo much good feed daily caft abroad, and yet no fruit almoft appears, where can we find one of an hundred in whom these fruits of the Spirit are difcernible. We have much means,and little fuccefs: So that God is wearied with our unfruitfulness, Minifters are difcouraged, Chriftianity is difgraced,and the Gofpel it felf in danger to be taken away from us: Whereby we may fee how very neceffary it is for us all to pray earnefily, that we may have more grace from God,and use it better when we have it, fo fhall God be glorified, the Gospel continued, and we be full of Piety and good Works,therefore let us all here alfo with great Devotion fay, We beseech thee,&c.

(u) Semen accepiftis,verba reddidiftis, ftræ folia funt, arboiftæ laudes ve borum fructus quæri tur.Aug.verb. Dom.

S. 5.

S.XV. That it may please thee to being into the way of Truth, all fuch as have erred and

are betelbed:] We beseech,&c.

Having Prayed for the Sanctification and Improvement of thofe within the Church, we now become folicitous for the Converfion of fuch as are without: And confidering how many by-paths of Deceit and Error there are, in which deluded Souls do wander, and by which they lose their way to endless Happiness; Wẹ cannot but pity and pray for them, that they may come into the right way, which we from St.Peter call be way of Truth, 2 Pet.ii.2. I confefs the whole wor'd is ready to ask Pilates Question, John xviii.3 8.What is Truth? But (with him) they have not patience to stay for an answer: Whereas if they would examine impartially it would appear, that there is nothing certainly and infallibly true,but what does manifeftly come from God, who is Truth it felf. Now all the Truth which God hath certainly revealed,is contained in holy Scripture, which is called the Word of Truth, and our Saviour faith thy word is Truth, John xvii. 17. The Traditions of men may deceive us, and the Inspirations which fome now pretend to, cannot be proved to come from God, as the Scripture can be. Therefore they that follow human Traditions habe erred,and they that rely upon new Lights are deceived. The Way of Truth is that Faith, and those Effentials of Worship which are prefcribed by God in Holy Scripture, and this is the Way in which we of theReformed Church do walk. Our Articles of Faith and our Effential Parts of Gods Worship are no more, nor no other,but what may manifeftly be proved to be revealed and inftituted by Divine Authority. And now whofoever walks not in this Way, they do err and are deceives, and we pray to

God