---------------- - ·-------·---- Chap.J.Seet+ Le~kingun#o '/t{tll. BooldV.Part.J. 645 ------------~--~ as he made a covenant, fo he kept his covenant; Oh when a man cannot endure to come where fuch a one is that he loves not when he qnnot endure the fight of him, or any thing that put; him in minde of him, not fo much as to parly, ,or fpeak with him, this is a figne ofafl:rong hatred,and fo v. h ~n a man hares the very g~rme~t !potted with the_ f!efh , here\ a g~od figne ;_ l kn~w r_hi~ height 1s not eafic to attame to,and theretore fomc 1n 1mltat10n of rob, and <J) ({vid have bound themfdvcs with vowes and promifes, as much as might be to abft atne from the appearance of evil to crui11 che Cockarriceegge before roe fer pent could creep;! out 'of it, to avoyd fin in its firH: rife, bur alas, how have they broken their vows"from time to time? ·for all this I dare not fpeak againft vows, provided that, r- !hey be of things lawful. 2. That we el.teem them not as dut1es ofabfolute neceffi ty. And, 3. That we binde not our felves perpetually, lefi our · vows iliould become burthensunto us, but only for lome iliort time·and fo ~enew them as occafion requires ; in this way our vows might much help us in our mortification : and if once through the help ofvows, or prayer, orlooking unto Jefu;, or going co the croffe of Jefus Chrifi, or by any other meanes we feele our felves mon: able torefift lin, to hate fin, in. its firft rife, firft motions, firl.l: on {et, we may affuredly hope that now QUI: mortification grows. ·. · 0 my foul try now the growth of thy mortification- by thefe fignes; haft thou overcome grolfer fins, and is now thy chiefdl:- confliCI: with fpiritual wickedneffe§ ? is thy fianding and walking with God more clofe, and even and confiant than fometimes' ~that~ been? _is thy lufis ~ore ~eak, and. tby grace more ~rong m ordmary acbngs? I fav m oromary aCI:mgs, for the efi"1mate. of thy growth muft not be taken for a turnc or two, bot by a: conH:ant courfe: haft tbou now more ability to quench the· fl ame offin in the very !parke, to daili Babylons brats againfi the fiones, even whil es rh~y are)1ttle, to abfiaine from fin in its firll notion or beginning? why,then is the promife accompliilied. hewill fubdueour in iquiti~s : f~rely thou a~t a.growing Chrifl:i~ Mich. 7 .19 ;;. an; thou haft fello1vilitp wtth ( hnft 10 hts fuffcrings.; thy. ground is lolid, firme, and fiable; th.y qope hath a rock-foundation, and thou mayft build upon i-t, that-Chrifts death;and blood Nnnn 3 . . andi
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