choose to do your Duty, though you are fure you fhall fmart for it fome how or other, refolutely oppofing all the Suggeftions of Flesh and Blood? This is the Way of a renewed Will: But it is not your Way. Your Determinations are irrefolute; your Heart goes not in with them, freely and fully; you find a fecret and prevailing drawing back within you, when you would inforce yourself to clofe with God's Will in Oppofition to that of yourself and others, of your Interests, Reputation and Pleasure. The new Creature chooses GoD's Will with an hearty Confent; would not do the least Thing which is contrary to it, nor keep, if he could help it, any thing within him, which in the lowest Degree should thwart or control it. He has a Watch upon the evil Tempers of his Heart, and labors ever to oppose them. He would bring every Thought to the Obedience of Christ. He finds himself secretly conftrained to look all Difficulties in the Face in the Way of his Duty, makes no known Refervations, nor comes short at any time, without acting Revenge against Sin and himfelf; can appeal to Gon, "Lord, thou knoweft my Heart; thou "feeft what is in me; thou seeft, that I

would not willingly offend thee in one "the least Point, or leave undone the finalleft Thing thou wouldst have me do. I 2 "Yea,

"Yea, thou knoweft, I defire with all Sim

plicity and Sincerity to be pure and holy "in thy Sight."

IN these two Particulars, theChoice of the renewed Will doth confift. And thefe, as leading Determinations, do continually draw the Choice after them in every lower Particular. Choice of GoD and of Obedience, like the Course of a River, gives all other Determinations of the Will a like Direction: Infomuch that just as we choose or refuse, with regard to thefe two, the general Bent of our Choice is in all other Points. us inftance in the Cafe of the Means of Grace for the better illuftrating the renewed Will.

Let

THE Man of an unrenewed Heart, doth not choose Worship and the Ministration of the Word. His Heart feems detained from them: And he cannot approach them with Complacency, or, at best, seeks not in them the End of their Destination and Ufe, Improvement and Growth in Grace. He is a fecret Enemy to fuch Employments; wishes he might be excufed; and will have as little of them as poffible: He hath a very ready Choice of all fuch Means, as may lead him to his favourite Gratifications in Life: But as to these Means of Grace, having no Heart to God, and to Obedience to his Will, he doth not like them.

Whereas

the

the newCreature chooses these needful Means, both that he may meet GOD in them, and exercise and strengthen his Soul in Grace, by the Ufe of them. He is determined upon them, and will have as much of them as he can. He will be in them, though the Flesh be ever fo unready; and industriously doth he chide and roufe his fluggish Affections. Willing to be fet free of the Bondage of Corruption, he cries, "Ah, my God, that "I were fashioned after thy Likeness; that

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thy Will were perfectly ftampt upon my "Soul; that no remaining Adverfary might "oppose thee in my Heart; that the con"ftant, univerfal Submiffion of all that is "within me, were yielded unto thee! Then "fhould I be free indeed! And this Free"dom, thou kindly óffereft me by Jefus "Chrift: Lord, I will wait upon thee, and "intreat thee for it Day and Night; yea, "I will feek thee, in whatever Place or "Manner thou haft appointed. Yes, my "Soul, we will not be tired of the graci"ous Work; we will ufe an holy Impor"tunity, we will be where the Dew of "Heaven falleth."

THIS may ferve to fhew, in what manner the new Creature chooses and determines ; nor fhall I need add any more upon this Head, when I have obferved, that his Choice is in due Conformity with the Apprehensions

he hath conceived of GoD and himself. And how reasonable and confiftent these are, hath been already feen.

3. I co on to the Affections. And here perhaps it will not be amifs, to let you fee previously, what is meant by them, and what is their Office and Ufe. A Piece of Knowledge indeed, of no Neceffity to Salvation: But which may help us to form a jufter Notion of the new Creature, in this third Power of the Soul. Now the Affections are thofe fenfibleStirrings and Motions, which with greater or lefs Activity rife up in us, concerning every thing which is the Object of our Thoughts. These are constantly at work; though when they act but in the ordinary Measure, we are not apt to remark and feel them. And, as hath been faid before, their Office is to put the Soul upon Action. An Example fhall fhew you the Nature and several Kinds of these Servants to the higher Faculties. Fix your Attention for a Moment upon a largeEstate, which would fupply you with all the Neceffaries and Elegancies of Life; whereon you might enjoy yourself at full Eafe, not wanting the least Pleasure you might be inclined to be out of the Reach of Fortune, and above Dependence; have it in your Power to oblige your Friends, and to keep as many of them as you would about you. Obferve

now:

now: Do you find that you are approving, and do esteem with Pleasure and Satisfaction, fuch a Poffeffion, wifhing it were yours? This Emotion you feel in you towards it, is the Affection called Love. Approving fuch an Estate, have you a certain Confidence that you may obtain it? The brifk Motion, you feel in you, is termed Hope. Suppose yourself poffeffed of it, and that you find yourself lifted up with much Satisfaction in your new Circumftances; this is the Affection Joy. Imagine yourself fo poffeffed and happy; and think if this Eftate fhould be taken from you; the Displeasure, you feel at the Thought, is called Hatred. But, fuppofe yourself in danger of lofing it; the Disturbance you experience within you, is Fear. Suppofe it actually taken from you; the Agitation you feel, is Sorrow. Let us place the Prefence and Favor of GOD, in the Stead of this Eftate. Suppofe GOD offering his Prefence and Favor to you. Do you hear the Offer with Pleasure? This is Love. Do you find yourself in a way of enjoying this Offer? You feel the Stirrings of Hope. Are you poffeffed of God's Prefence and Favor? Your Affection is Joy. Think of being deprived of God's Prefence and Favor: You feel Hatred. Suppofe yourself in Danger of lofing it: It is Fear that works in your Breaft. Have you loft it for the prefent?

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