SPIRITUAL PEACE AND COMPORT. 299. Mg and displeasing God. And they that do so shall find that God will show them his displeasure, and will displease them again. Theymust not look to enjoy assurance, or see the pleased face of God, till they are moré careful to please him, and are more sparing, and seldom in offending him. As God's universal justice, in gov- erning the world, will make as great a difference between the sin- cerely obedient and disobedient as there is between heaven and hell, so God's paternal justice, in governing his family, will make as wide a difference between the more obedient children and the less obedient, as is between his dreadful frowns and his joyous, reviving smiles; or between the smarting rod or his encouraging rewards: 11. If God should give assurance and peace to the sin- ning and least obedient believers, he shouldnot fit his providential disposals to their good. It is not that which their state requires, nor would it tend to their cure any more than a healing plaster to a sore that is rotten in the bottom, ora cordial to the removal of a cacochymy, or the purging out of corrupt, redundant humors. They are so inclined to the lethargy of security, that they have need of contnual pinching, striking, or loud calling on, to keep them waking; still remember that by this weak Christian, I mean not every doubting, distressed soul that is weak in their own ap- prehension, and little in their own eyes, and poor in spirit; but I mean those that have the least measure of sincere love to Christ, and desire fter' him, and tenderness of conscience, and care to please God, and the greatest measure of security, worldliness, pride, flesh-pleasing, and boldness in sinning, which is consistent with sincerity in the faith. I believe there is no father or mother, that hath children to govern, but they know by experience, that there is a necessity of frowns and rods for the more disobedient ; and that rewards and smiles are no cure for stubbornness or con- tempt. 12. Lastly, do but well consider, what a solecism in gov- 'érnment it would be, and what desperate inconveniences it would have brought into the world, if God should have set such a punc- tual landmark between his kingdom and the kingdomof Satan, as we are ready to dream of. If God should have said in his word, just so oft a mari may be drunk, or may murder, or commit adultery, or steal, or forswear himself, and yet be a true Christian, and be saveo! Or just so far a man may go, inneglectingduty. to God and man, and in cherishing his flesh, hiding his sin, &c., and yet be a true believèr and be saved. This would imbolden men in sinning, andmake them think, I may yet venture, for I stand on safe ground. And it would hinder repentance. Indeed, it would be the way to rob God of his honor, and multiply provocations against him, and keep his children in disobedience, and hinder their growth in holiness, and cause a deformity in Christ's body,
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