3o8ì What }full they da that are riot able Serm. i z. So much for the means to obtain this certain knowledge of Eternal life, but if by the de of chete and the like directions, the foul cannot get this affurance, and though he fearch, and pray,and grieve, becaufe he bath not the light of Gods cóuntenance finning upon him, follow- eth the rneans,and longs co know his elate, and all things he enjoyech are leffened in his efteem, becaufe he cannot fee his interett in Chritl, who:n he cloth molt efleem. To thee I will give thefe Dire - &ìons. Counfel to thofe that by theee direaions cannot yet ob- tain this aßà- rance, Firfl, Though thou cang not fay thy condition is good, yet do not fa! that thy conditions is bad. Though thou canti not affirm thou halt the faith of Evidence, yet do nor peremptorily fay, thou haft not the faith of Adherence ; though thou haft nor the witnefs of the fpirìc for tht4, yet do not bearfalfe witnefs againít thy Pelf; cantt not thou fay thou arc fure of Heaven, yet do not fay there is no hope of Heaven, though thou cant} not own Heaven as thine, do not difown it ; if thou cant} not prove it , do nor difclairn ir. It is orange yet ordinary -to fee many doubting Chritlians difpute againfl themfelves,' and reafoti againt} their own comfort ; tell them of their longing after Chrif+, their weeping and mourning for him, they doubt it is not in truth : if you fly to them , if you do nor truly love him then let him a- lone', and follow no more after him ; why do you grieve for him be- caufe you cannot find him , if you do not truly love, him ? they will reply, Confcience will put a man on to do fomething , when yet it may not be done out of love to God ; if you ask , can you take up with any thing 'boa of Chrifi, though indeed they cannot, yet they will reply, The heart isdeceitful,and they know' not what they fhould do. Frame riot Arguments srgaioft thy felf , when thou can( not frame them for thy felf; live by faith, zwhen thou cant} not live by fenfe and comfort. Take heed here,of judging thy condition to be bad by trying thy felf by rules, not fo fuitable.ro find out the being and truth of grace, as the growth and increafe of grace. And-here, I. Say nor, thou haft no Grace, becaufe thou hail not fo much as thou feet} others to have; to i ake notice of the eminent degrees of Grace in others, to provoke our felves to labour, after the fame propor- tion is good, but to argue for a nullity of Grace, becaufe thou haft nor fuch a quantity of Grace, as thou difc rnefl in owlets, is nor rational. I; there no water in the Brook, becaufe there is not fo much as in the River ? Is there not light in a Candle, becar ;;e there is i ot`fo much as in the Sun ? Wilt thou fay thou art a Begger, becaufe thou art not fo rich
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