Remember, man, if the grace of God hath taken hold of thy soul, thou
art a man of another world, and indeed a subject of another and more
noble kingdom, the kingdom of God--which is the kingdom of the
gospel, of grace, of faith, and righteousness, and the kingdom of
heaven hereafter. In these things thou shouldst exercise thyself,
not making heavenly things which God hath bestowed upon thee, stoop
to things that are of the world; but rather here beat down the body,
to mortify thy members, hoist up thy mind to the things that are
above, and practically hold forth before all the world that blessed
word of life.
Assure thyself, thy God will not give thee straw, but he will expect
brick.
It is amiable and pleasant to God when Christians keep their rank,
relation, and station, doing all as becomes their quality and
calling. When Christians stand all in their places, and do the work
of their stations, then they are like the flowers in the garden,
that stand and grow where the gardener hath planted them; and then
they shall both honor the garden in which they are planted, and the
gardener that hath so disposed of them. From the hyssop in the wall
to the cedar in Lebanon, their fruit is their glory. And seeing the
stock into which we are planted is the most fruitful stock, the sap
conveyed thereout the most fruitful sap, and the dresser of our
souls the wisest husband-man, how contrary to nature, example, and
expectation we should be, if we should not be rich in good works.
Wherefore, take heed of being painted fire, wherein is no warmth; of
being painted flowers, which retain no smell; and of being painted
trees, whereon is no fruit. Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift,
is like clouds and wind without rain. Farewell; the Lord be with thy
spirit, that thou mayest profit for time to come.
THEY only have benefit by Christ to eternal life, who die by his
example as well as live by his blood; for in his death was both
merit and example; and they are like to miss in the first, that are
not concerned in the second.
As it is natural for the stranger, so soon as ever he has entered
the gates of a city, to have his feet in the streets of the city, so
it is natural for the sinner, so soon as ever he is entered into the
church of Christ, to have his feet treading in the way and paths of
holiness. Wherefore it is usual in the holy Scripture to call the
transformation of the sinner from Satan to God a holy way, and also
to admonish him that is so transformed to walk in that way, saying,
Walk in the faith, love, spirit, and newness of life, and walk in
the truth, ways, statutes, and judgments of God.
Jacob, when sick, would worship God, though so weak as not able to
do it without leaning upon the top of his staff: a blessed example
for the diligent, and reproof for those that are slothful.