the promfes ofcverlafl nglife.. Nlor bath rny#loth and negligee tofteke:Pvidencedrigs aflurance, and enter p©iefiîon_of that tlous-m ay-- tance, by growingup in peace, joy,holinef e and_fan&ifi cation, beene le fie odious, then former carelefneffe. Since I have beene enlightned, and trifled of' the heavenly gift, I have fleighted the promifes of merc' , which fnould have beene my continual) meditation ;.I haveheg- lefted toget andkeepethe holy Spirit,holy in it felJ-e;tna- king themholy in whom as temples it dwclleth, the feale and carnet of' the promifed inheritance. Ah, what a dwarfe am I inholineffe and fanc`fiñcation ? for thefe ma- nyyeares haw little have I gained ? My fpirituall figh is:'. exceeding dimme, mypallions boi(lerous, _my heart. itty, quiet, my thoughts evil), mynature corrupt. I am -daft to good, ant to fin, feeble andofno power towithftand temptations, fhaken with many feares touching my fal- vation, footle unfetled and removed from flee fa[Ineffe by any contrary oppofition, farthefl to feebe for evidence' and aflurance when I ',land in greate[l need. All this is come upon me throughmine owne foolifhneffe e becaufe I have not acquainted my felfe with the promifes of grace, nourifnied the motions ofthe Spirit, carefully im- proved the gifts received, endeavoured after perfeCtion, and laboured to be fealed more and morewith thepro- mifed Spirit. What might I have grewenunto inChritl, ifIhad inflantly defired the Spirit ofGraceof himwho giveth ir, heeded the infpiraticns and fuggellions ofit, and by allconfcionable meanes fought increafe of grace, and aflTrance of falvation ? Long ere now I might have attained fulneffe of fpirituall wifdome and underftan- ding, flrength offaith,power of grace,fweet communion and fellowfhipwithGod liberty and freedome to walke withGod, comfortable poífeffion in part, and goodat- fürance of eternali life in due time tobe accompliílhed whereas by reafonof (loth and negligence thepowersof grace are fo enfeebled, that I can fcarce breathe, ugh, crawle in theway to Heaven, my heart is defoIate, I am a S 4 [lran- 263 _--.---. .
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