ce~pertcnce.s. Vaility ofwmitin all is wmity : 0 ! how will thefe ble!fcd Experienc.s, backed by F. . 1 Scripture-truths, 'kindle our affections ! I deny not Faith worll.s more ftedfa!l:mlfe?and "'· ' 2 ' firmnelfe ofadhcrence,but E xperier.ccs ufually breed the greater ftrength of alfech ons: Jlw e the Lord ( faith D~<vid) and why fo? becauf e (of this £xpmence) be hath h<t<rd my P{..t• .H 5·t. 'll.cice, a•d myjirpplications. . . 2 . \Ve mu!t endeavuur to produce that fruit, that frame of heart,. which the Lord requires, dire:ls, and looks for in fuch and fuchcafes . Thus the San:tificatiOn of Exp<– ,·iences is evidenced by the D ifPofitzom anfwermg Gods mmde, which arc left upon the heart, and brought forth in the life afterwards; namely,. when 0Ivme difcovenes are the more ftrongly believed; the heart by threats more kmdly awed ; adherence tu the Prcmifes more ihongly confirmed ; the deceitful heart more narrowly watched ; Satans fuggeltion more watchfully refifl:ed ; the bewitchings of the world kept at a greater dilbnce from the foul ; m aword, when by this expemnental applicatiOn 9f Gods works to his word, God is more advanced, and Self more abnfed, the honour of the Lord is more itudied, and the edification of his people endeavoured, holy love encreafed, fervice quick'ned, fJith lhengthned, Chrilt i.mproved ; then is this bufinelfc Chriltianly managed indeed. But of thefe more largely m the next See! IOn. SECT. + Ofthe SanEliftcation of Experiences in theirf cveral Vfes. T He Sanctification of Experiences is evidenced (as \VC faid) by fuch D iJPoftiw s as' thefe : - r. When Divine difcoveries are more ll:rongly believed; this is one fruit of Expe– rience, it wonderfully ftrengthens our faith : When the Ifraelires faw the Egyptians drowned, then they believed the Lord, and hiJ fervanrM of es. When we finde all things in the event to be as we believed, this confirms our Faith, as D avid k._new that God , f,.voured him, by his deliverances. 2. When the heart by threats is more kindly awed: this is another fruit of E x pe– rience, The righteous alf oJhallfeeand f ear ; firll: f ee, and thenfrar : When the Primitve Chrill:ians faw Anani~Uf all down, and give up the ghoft, then great fear came on them that henrd thof e things ; · this holy fear many a time polfe!feth the Saints; .My fi.ej1J trembledf or fear of thee (faith David) and I am af raid of thy jlldgemems. ---when I heard, my belly. trembled (faithH abak..l:!<k) my lips quivered atthe v oice ; rottemuj[e entred into my bones, and I trembled in my f elf, that I might reft in the day of trouble: As the child quaketh when he feeth his Father correct a fervant, fo the faithful tremble when they obferve the feverity of Gods wrath againll: impenitent finners . 3· When the deceitful heart is more narrowly watched: Hath it cozened us once and again? E xperience hereof will breed in us a godly jealoufie and fufpition over our hearts ; we are now confcious of our own weakneffe, and of the fnare that is in every .creature, to take and entangle us ; and this will make waking Believers circumfpett and careful, how they entertain evil motions, how they keep up holy thoughts, ho w they perform holy duties, how their affections move towards that which is above, !ell: they lhould mifcarryupon the fands . 4· \Vhen Satans fuggcfl:ions are more watchfully refifl:ed, this is the voice of Expe– riencein fuca a cafe, D oth Satanfurioujly affaii us ?be not difmaycd; A re bis temptations mojl fierce? be we moft diligent in the means ofgrace, thepra[fice ofholincj[e, the labours of '"' honeft.callmg; pray earnejlly , exerci(ef aith,ftidzJ afler to the >Vord ofpromife, ftopour tars ag_amjlfcruples and doubtings, D ra1v nigh to Goa,for Satan will then ceafe to vex tbee IV<t~ hu te':'ptatiom any more: Refft the D evil, and he will flyf romyott: it is true, the Beltever ts too weak of himfelf to withftand the leaft aJfault, but if we relic on the Lord,we ~ay through bis power be made victorious in the greatcft alfaults whatfoever· and here ISthe comfort of Experience, That a foul having once returned with vi:lory; through the power ofhis might, He will abide in the fecret plao·e of the moft high f or ever. · $• When the bewitchinges of the world are kept at a great dill:ance frOI!J the fouf: Thts was Solomomcafe and cure, after all his travels and great delights, he no fooncr returns as to hsmfelf,. but he fills the world with this news; .What news? Vanity . And what more? V''"" " of vamtm; And what more? Allu vamtu: E xperience of its '~~"""'• weans hirn from the love. of this earth, it takes him offtl).e creature; and lifts him Erod 14·3" Pjal.4t,ll. Pf,d. 52. 6. Alls.s.s. . P[•l.tt,.tz$, Hafl p o.
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