SPIRITUAL. PEACE AND COMFORT. 375 do; but he says it home, and spares not, as one that knows that the flesh's ruin must be his rising, and the flesh's thriving would be his ricin. Inthese things the true Christian alone, is in good sadness, and all the rest of the world but in jest. The Lord pity poor deludedsouls! You may see, by this one thing, how rare a thing true Christianity is among the multitude that take themselves forChristians; andhow'certain, therefore, it is that few shall be saved. Even this one point of true mortification and self -denial is a stran- ger amongst the most of professors. O, how sad a testimony of it are the actions of these late times, wherein so much hath been done for self, and safety, and carnal interests, and so little for Christ! yea, and that after the deepest engagements of mercies and vows that ever lay on a people in the world. Insomuch, that through the just judgment ofGod, they are now given up to doubt, whether it be the duty of rulers todo any thing as rulers for Christ, orno, or whether they should not let Christ alone todo it himself. Well, this which is such a mystery to the unregenerate world, is a thing that every genuine Christian is acquainted with ; for " they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof; " and the world is dead to them, and they to the world ; Gal. v. 21. . Take this counsel, therefore, in all the several cases mentioned, in the Direction. 1. In your preventing sin, and maintaining your innocency; if you cannot do it without denying your credit, and exposing your- self to disgrace, or without the loss of friends, or a breach in your estate, do it nevertheless ; yea, if it would cost you your utter ruin In the world, thank God that put such an opportunity into your hand for extraordinary consolations. For, ordinarily, the martyrs' comforts exceed other men's as much as their burden of duty and suffering doth. Cyprian is fain to write for the comfort of some Christians in his times, that at death were troubled that they missed of their hopes of martyrdom. So also, if you cannot . mortify any lust without much pinching the flesh, do it cherfully;, for the dearer the victory costeth you, the sweeter will be the issue and review. 2. The same counsel I give you also in yotìr rising from sin.. It is the sad condition ofthose that yield to a temptation, and once put their foot within the doors'of Satan, that they ensnare them- selves so, that theymust undergo thrice as great difficulties to draw back, as theyneeded tohave done beforehand for prevention and forbearance. Sin unhappily engágeth the sinner to, go on; and one sin Both make another seem necessary. O, how hard a thing is it for him that hathwronged another by stealing, deceit, over reaching in bargaining, or the like, to confess his fault, and ask him
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