314 DIRECTIONS FOR GETTING AND KEEPING with God, andyet he had no assurance of salvation ; I mean either of continuing in paradise, or being translated to glory. For if he had, either he was sure to persevere in innocency, and so to be glorified, (but thatwas not true,) or else he must foreknow both that he should fall and be raised again, and saved by Christ. But this he knew not at all. 2. Experience tells us that the greatest part of Christians on earth do enjoy that peace and comfort which they have, withoutany certainty of their salvation. 3. The nature of the thing telleth us, that a likelihood of so great a mercy as ever- lasting glory, must needs be a ground of greatcomfort. Ifá poor condemned prisoner do but hear that there is hopes of a pardon, especially if very probable, it will glad his heart. Indeed, if an angel from heaven were brought into this state, it would be sad to him ; but if a devil or condemned sinner have such hope, it must needs be glad new to them. The devils have it not, but we ,have. Let me next, therefore, entreat you to take the comfort of your probabilities of grace and salvation. Your horse or dog know not how you will use them, certainly ; yet will they lovingly follow you, and put their heads to your hand, and trust you with their lives without fear, and love to be in your company, because they have found you kind'to them, and have "tried thatyou do them no hurt, but good ; yea, though you do strike `them sometimes, yet they find that they have their food from you, and your favor doth sus- tain them. Yea, your little children have no certainty how you will use .them, and yet, finding that you have always used them kindly, and expressed love to them, though youwhip them some- times, yet are glad of your company, and desire to be in your lap, and can trust Themselves in your hands, without tormenting them- selves with such doubts as these, ' I am uncertain how my mother will use me, whether she will wound me, or kill me, or turn me out of doors, and let me perish.' Nature persuades us not to be, too distrustful of those that have always befriended us, and especially whose nature is merciful and compassionate; nor to be too suspi- cious of evil from them that have always done us good. Every man knows that the good will do good, and the evil will do you evil ; and accordingly we expect that they should do to us. Nat- urally, we all fear a toad, a serpent, an adder, a' mad dog, a wicked man, a madman, a cruel, blood-thirsty tyrant, and the devil. But no one fears a dove, a lamb, a good man, a merciful, compassionate governor, except only the rebels or notorious offenders that know he is bound in justice to destroy ór punish them. Andnone should fear distrustfully the wrath of a gracious God, but they who will not submit to his mercy, ánd will not have Christ to reign over them, and therefore may know that he is bound in justice, if they
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