SPIRITUAL PEACE AND COMFORT. 291 overcbgte the shake of tribulation. I think most men arse better in adversity than in prosperity, though I confess no adversity is so shaliing, as that which leaves it in a man's choice to come out of it by sinning. As for a man in health to be persecuted, and the per- secutor to say, 'If thou wilt turn to my side and way, I will give thee thy life and preferment with it ;' but sickness or othersuffer- ings imposed only by God, and.which only God can take off, are nothing so shaking. For as the former draws us to. please men; that they maydeliver us, so this. draws even the wicked to think of pleasing God, that he may deliver them. xvii. Observe that when I ask ' whether this resolution do already prevail,' I do not mean any perfect prevailing¡ nay, sin may pre- vail to draw you to a particular act, (and how many I will not un- dertake to tell yoti,) and yet still grace and the Spirit da conquer in the main. For you will say, that general and army get the vic- tory who vanquish the other, and win the field, thoughyet perhaps a troop or regiment may be routed, and many slain. xviii. When I speakof your ' overcoming all gross sins,' as I mean in ordinary, not doubtingbut it is too possible for a believerto com- init agross sin ; so I confess that it is hard to tell just which sins are to be called gros, and which. infirmities only; or (as some speak) which are mortal 'and which not. And therefore this mark hash some difficulties, as to the right trying of it, (of which more anon.) xis. Yet I desire that you join them all together in trial, seeing it is in the whole that the true and full description of a Christian is contained. The same description of a true Christian (pre-sup- posing his right belief) I have 'drawn up in our public church pro- fession, which in this county the ministers have agreed on ; in the profession of consent in these words ; ' I do heartily take this one God for myonly God and chief good ; and this Jesus Christ for my only Lord, Redeemer and Savior; and this Holy Ghost for my Sanctifier; and the doctrine by him revealed and sealed by his miracles, and now contained in the Holy Scriptures, do I take for the law of God, and"the rule of my faith. and life ; and repenting unfeignedly ofmy 'sins, I do resolve through the grace of God sin- cerely to. obey him, both in holiness tb God, and righteousness to mah, and in special love to the saints, and communion with them, against all the temptations of the.devil, the world, and my own flesh, and this to death.'. He that sincerelycan speak these words, is a sincere Christian. . xx. Lastly, that you niay see that those five which I laid you down are all true marks, do but peruse these texts of Scripture fdl- lowing. For the first, Psalm xvi. 5. 2. lxxiii. 24-28. iv. 6, 7. i..1--3. Josh. xxiv. 16-18. 21--24. Matt. vi. 19-21. Rom.
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