The Life of Faith. better you arc indeed, the more humble youwill be, and apt to think othersbetter than your felt. Dire& t z. So alto in every temptation to fin, let Faith fe Heaven open, and take the temptation in its proper fenfe, q. [Take this pleature iidtead of God : (e4 thy part in Heaven ft. this preferment or commodity: calf away thy foul for this fenfum delight.] This is the truemeaning of every temptation to fin, andonly Faith can underfland it. The Devil eafily prevaileth, when Heaven is forgotten and out offight; and pleafure,com- modity, credit and preferment, fcem a great matter, and can domuch, till Heaven be let in the ballance againtl them ; and there they are nothing, and can do nothing, Phil. 3. 7, 8, 9. Heb. 12. 1, 2, 3.2 Cor. 4. 16, 17. DtrtG. z 2. Let Faith alto fee God almaies pretent. Men dare do any thing when they think they are behind his back ; even truants andeye-fervants will do well under the Mailers cyt: Faith teeing him that is inviubie (Heb. z z.) is it that fändifieth heart and life. As the Attributes of God are the feel which mull make his Image on us.; fo the apprchenfion of his pretence fettetb them on, and keepeth our faculties awake. Dire& 13. Be fire that Faith, make Gods acceptance your full reward, andfet you above the opinion ofman. Not in fclf.conceitednefs, and pride of your fell- fuffciency, to let light by the judgment of other men : (That is a heinous finof it fell, and doubled when it is done upon pretence of living upon God alone.) But that really you live fo much to God alone, as that all men fecm as nothing to you, and their opinion of you, as ablail of wind, in regard of any felicity ofyour own, which might be placed in their love or pralle Though as a means to Godsfervice, and their owngood, you mullpleafe all men to their edification, and become all things to all men, to win them to God, Gal, I. to, z z. Rom. t 5. 1, 2. Prov. 11. 30. z Cor. 9.22. & Q. 33. you and fludy to pleafe your Govcrnoursas your duty, Titus 2.9. But as man-pleaßng is the Hypocrites workand wages ; fo mull the pleafrng of Gad be ours, though all the world thould be difpleafed, Mattb. 6, z, 2, 3, 5, 6, &c. 2 Tim. 2.4. a Cor. 7. 3 z. z Thef. 4.t. z Cot. S. 8, 9. z 04.2, 4. z lobs 3.22. A a a z Dire6t. i4. 37'
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