86 The Tryall of 2. Not judge by extraordinary affiftances or temptations. them : In like manner alfo the eflimate of the progrelfe of the vk ories of a Conquerour inan enemies Kingdome,vis not taken from the taking or burning of a few villages or dorps, but by taking in the Forts and ffrongefl Holds, and by what :ground he hath wonupon the chiefe fcrength, and by what forces he hath cut offof the maine Army. Doe the like in the decreafe of, and victory over your lulls. Secondly, you mutt not judge of your Mortification, by extra- ordinary afllffances or temptations : As you doe, not judge of the firength ofa Kingdome by auxiliary forraigne forces,that are at extraordinary times called in. A yoang Chritlian (hall for his encourage-ment even in the heat of the battaile, when he is ready to be overcome, and carryed away captive, find theholy Ghoft breaking in, and refcaingof him, (as 7thofhaphat was, (to allude to it) when he cryed to the Lord) when as a Chriftian of much [landing is left to fight it out hand tohand : Now it doth not follow that the other, becaufe thus freed, bath the more (lrength. Againe, on the other fide, a man is not to judge of himfclfe by his weakneffe in fome one extraordinary temptation. Aman that is very lick, and nigh unto death and diffolution, may through much heat, and furringup ofall his fpirits, have the (crength of five men in him, and muchgreater then when he was in health : And fo a godly man, whefe corruptions are weak, and morenecre to diLiolution, yet in a fit may have all the cor- ruption that is within himmuttered up, and blowne upby Satan, and fo it may for the prefent appeare to have more flrength then ever in all his life, and yet he may be much mortified: Even as Sarah may by an extraordinay means have pleafure in her old age, and bring forth a child,when fhe had left child -bearing long, andyet her womb Wau dead, Rom. 4, 19. And as it may be true, that one of fmall grace may have that little gracedrawne out,and wound up to a higher (Iraine, for one fit, brunt and exercife; all the firings wound up to a higher note for fome one lefl'on, then one haply of more grace ever felt, to higher asof love to God, and of rejoycing in God, and purer fcrains of felfe -denyall ; yet take the constant (trains of ones fpirit that bath more grace, and the firings will ordinarily endure to [land higher, and continue fo : So on the contrary,' oneofmuch mortification, may have his
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