288 ( What it is to live by Faith touching á. am forgetful) ofmy purpofes,negligent oftheopportuni- ties to get good, di(lraeted with lawfull bufireffe, and wearieof the workes ofmycalling,perplexed at the trou- bles I mette with, givingway to frowardneffe, not loo- kingup to God : unthankfull for mercies, trifling out the time in foolifh furmifes, vaine ploddings, and unpro- fitable fpeeches. The poore, leane, thinne fruits of grace, which through the mercyof God now and then I efpie in my felfe, thefe proclaimemy ficke and feeble flare : my thoughts and meditations ofgood are poore and few ; flrivings againfi fin weake, appetite to the wholfome foodof life fmall, dige(lion (low, obedience rnarvellous defeFtive and ina manner liveleffe. I liveun- der the powerful) meanes ofgrace, enjoymany helps in private, am free frommanygreat tentations, wherewith others are exercifed in refpec`f oftheir outward condition, bleffed with thefociety ofthem that feare God, pruned and drefled by my heavenly Father, and yet I reale, wa- ver, am toiled toand fro, and ready to fall upon every occalion. Ah, wretched man that I am, how fhall I be able to (land, if the meanes fhoul:i feile, perfe- cutions be railed, or the powers ofHell let loofe upon me. Secondly, Hemull flirre up himfelfe to refs upon God through Jefus Chrifl; for eflablifhment and confirmati- on. Why should I feare by reafon zfmine is firmities, or the malice ofmy fpirituall enemies ? I ato ficke, but God is my phyfitian ; weak; but God is my rocke, my firength, my hightower ; I like a loft fheepe am ready to goe affray, but the Lord is my Shepheard, and will not fuffer mee to perifh. Chrifts interceffion is ever effecluall : but he bath prayed that my faith fhould not falle, and promifed that the gates ofhell {hall not pre- vaile. The Ions of edam, mortali by birth, can never grow beyond the (late ofmortality : the children ofGod borne of immortali feed can never fall from the flare ofimmortality. True faith is a neverfading faith, the life of
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