121. Therefore we say what we knozv, that he that will call himself a true Christian must try himself, atjd find what Kind of Properties drive and rule him, whether the Spirit of Christ moveth him to Truth and Righteousness , and to the Love of his Neigh - hour, so that he would willingly do what is right, if he knew but how.
122. Now if he find that he hath a real Hunger after such Virtue, then he may justly think that he is drazvn. And then he must begin to practise accordingly, and not be content with a Will only, without Doing. The ^drawing of the Father to Christ consisteth in the Will, but the true Life consisteth in the Doing; for the right Spirit doeth that which is right.
123. But if there be the Will to do, and yet the 1 ) oipg fo ] 1 ^ e t k not, then the true Man is still shut up in vain Lust, which suppresseth the Doing. And therefore such a one is but an Hypocrite and an Ishmaelite ; he speaketh one Thing and doth’ another, and witnesseth thereby that his Mouth is a Liar ; for he himself doth not that which he teacheth , and consequently only serveth the Bestial Man in Vanity.
124. For he that will say, I have a Will, and would willingly do good, but the earthly Flesh, which I carry about me, keepeth me back, so that I cannot ; yet I shall be saved by Qrace, for the Merits of Christ. I comfort myself with His Merit and Sufferings ; ivho will receive me of mere Qrace, without any Merits of my own, and forgive me my Sins. Such a one I say, is like a Man that knoweth what Food is good for his Health, yet will not eat of it, but eateth Poison instead thereof, from whence Sickness and Death will certainly follow.
125. For what good doth it to the Soul to know the Way to
Qod, if it will not walk therein, but go on in a contrary Path ? What good will it do the Soul to comfort itself with the Filiation of Christ, with His Passion and Death , and so flatter itself with the Hopes of getting the Patrimony thereby, if it will not enter into the Filial Birth, that it may be a true Child, born out of the Spirit of Christ, out of His Suffering, Death and Resurrection ? Surely, the Tickling and Flattering itself with Christ's Merits, without the true innate Childship, is Falsehood and a Lie , whosoever he be that teacheth it. « ,
126. This Comfort belongeth only to the penitent Sinner, who striveth against Sin and the A nger of God. When Temptations come, and the Devil assaulteth such a poor repentant Soul, then it must wholly wrap itself up in the Merits and Death of Christ, as its sole Armour of Defence.
Of Regeneration. 8,1
— — — *
127. * Christ alone indeed hath merited Redemption for us ; but not in such a Way as that for His own proper Merit's Sake, He will freely grant us His Childship by an outward Adoption only, and so receive us for his Children , when we are none. No. He himself is the Mirit , He is the open Qate that leadeth through Death ; and through that Qate we must enter. He receiveth no Beast into his Merit , but those only that turn , and become as Children . Those Children that thus come to Him arp His Reward \ which he hath merited
128. For thus he said, 4 Father, the Men were thine and thou ‘ hast given them to me,’ [as my Reward] 4 and I will give them ‘eternal Life/ But the Life of Christ will be given to none, unless they come to Him in His Spirit , into His Humanity , Sufferings , and Merit , and therein be born true Children of the
129. Wc? must be born of His Merit , and put on the Merit of Christ in his Passion add Death ; not otitwardly with verbal Flattery only, and bare comforting of ourselves therewith, while we still remain Aliens and strange Children, of a strange Essence or’Nature. No, the strange Essence inheriteth not the Childship , but the innate Essence inheriteth it.
130. This innate Essence is not of this World \ but in Heaven , of which St. Paul speaketh saying, Our Conversation is in Heaven . The filial Essence walketh in Heaven , and Heaven is in Man.
121. Therefore we say what we knozv, that he that will call himself a true Christian must try himself, atjd find what Kind of Properties drive and rule him, whether the Spirit of Christ moves him to Truth and Righteousness , and to the Love of his Neigh - hour, so that he would willingly do what is right, if he knew but how.
122. Now if he find that he has a real Hunger after such Virtue, then he may justly think that he is drazvn. And then he must begin to practise accordingly, and not be content with a Will only, without Doing. The ^drawing of the Father to Christ consists in the Will, but the true Life consists in the Doing; for the right Spirit does that which is right.
123. But if there be the Will to do, and yet the 1 ) oipg fo ] 1 ^ e t k not, then the true Man is still shut up in vain Lust, which suppresses the Doing. And therefore such a one is but an Hypocrite and an Ishmaelite ; he speaks one Thing and does’ another, and witnesses thereby that his Mouth is a Liar ; for he himself does not that which he teaches , and consequently only serves the Bestial Man in Vanity.
124. For he that will say, I have a Will, and would willingly do good, but the earthly Flesh, which I carry about me, keeps me back, so that I cannot ; yet I shall be saved by Qrace, for the Merits of Christ. I comfort myself with His Merit and Sufferings ; ivho will receive me of mere Qrace, without any Merits of my own, and forgive me my Sins. Such a one I say, is like a Man that knows what Food is good for his Health, yet will not eat of it, but eats Poison instead thereof, from whence Sickness and Death will certainly follow.
125. For what good does it to the Soul to know the Way to
Qod, if it will not walk therein, but go on in a contrary Path ? What good will it do the Soul to comfort itself with the Filiation of Christ, with His Passion and Death , and so flatter itself with the Hopes of getting the Patrimony thereby, if it will not enter into the Filial Birth, that it may be a true Child, born out of the Spirit of Christ, out of His Suffering, Death and Resurrection ? Surely, the Tickling and Flattering itself with Christ's Merits, without the true innate Childship, is Falsehood and a Lie , whosoever he be that teaches it. « ,
126. This Comfort belongs only to the penitent Sinner, who strives against Sin and the A nger of God. When Temptations come, and the Devil assaults such a poor repentant Soul, then it must wholly wrap itself up in the Merits and Death of Christ, as its sole Armour of Defence.
Of Regeneration. 8,1
— — — *
127. * Christ alone indeed has merited Redemption for us ; but not in such a Way as that for His own proper Merit's Sake, He will freely grant us His Childship by an outward Adoption only, and so receive us for his Children , when we are none. No. He himself is the Mirit , He is the open Qate that leads through Death ; and through that Qate we must enter. He receives no Beast into his Merit , but those only that turn , and become as Children . Those Children that thus come to Him arp His Reward \ which he has merited
128. For thus he said, 4 Father, the Men were your and you ‘ have given them to me,’ [as my Reward] 4 and I will give them ‘eternal Life/ But the Life of Christ will be given to none, unless they come to Him in His Spirit , into His Humanity , Sufferings , and Merit , and therein be born true Children of the
129. Wc? must be born of His Merit , and put on the Merit of Christ in his Passion add Death ; not otitwardly with verbal Flattery only, and bare comforting of ourselves therewith, while we still remain Aliens and strange Children, of a strange Essence or’Nature. No, the strange Essence inherits not the Childship , but the innate Essence inherits it.
130. This innate Essence is not of this World \ but in Heaven , of which St. Paul speaks saying, Our Conversation is in Heaven . The filial Essence walks in Heaven , and Heaven is in Man.
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