Serin. 15. when Inward and outward Troables meet ? a fate and fecure, peaceable, quiet, comfortable, well allured paffage through all the firaights and ftorms we can meet withal on this fide the Kingdom, even death it felf; rea upon Chrift always by Faith of adherence on Gofpel terms, and you are fate but reft not, fit not down with this Faith, for 'cis not enough to comfort you in an evil day (though to fupport it is.) o ! but I have laboured and waited, and yet cannot obtain. But go on and thou canft not mifs it (for 'cis promifed, Efay 32.17. S7.19. Rom.8 16, &c.) and thou fhalt have affurance in thy greateft need ; better affliction find thee in this work and perfuit , then put thee upon it (as for certain it will to thy coft.) When afflition comes, then firfl for a man to begin to put the queflion , am I in Chrifl ? am I in the flate of Grace ? favour of God, &c ? O 1 thou wilt find it hard to get above thy fears, but Pfal.46.1. God is a very prefent help in time of trouble, i, e, for affurance in a darkfome fiate when thou canft make no fhift without it ; do thou very much feek God for it in thy freedom and thou fhalt be fure of it in thy need , he will be very much found (Hebr,) as before, give all diligence to make, and thou art fure. 4. Add hereunto in order to the promoting of a well- grounded evi- Direel. dence and affurance, a prudent obfervation of, and careful attendance to the doubts,which arife upon occafion, about your condition; there is no Chriflian attains to that degree of affurance, but is fometimes troubled with doubts, viz. fuch as thefe. i. I was never humbled enough ; my fore wag never fearched to the bottom ; can my cure be done with fo little pain ? 2. I never knew the beginning, or manner of my converfion ; can Grace like dew come without noire, in in- fenfible degrees ? Surely I am at beft, but a refined moralift. 3. I can be heartily, and excefiively afflifted for outward loffes, &cô but fin, as Lin, is not fuch a burthen to me ; and the lofs of Gods fa° your goes no fo near me. 4. I can pour out my heart in vain delights, but have little liveli- ,nefs of affection for Spiritual things. 5. I grow heavier, and heavier in duties, and I think were it not for fhame,I fhould be ready to lay them afide , and tread them under foot fo little joy do I take in them, fo little good do I get by them, and the like. Now what dolt thou ? fhift off and let pats thefe and other like doubts, without endeavouring by what means thou canl},to f alve, and A a a 2 A afroli 365 i
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