400 DIRECTIONS FOR GETTING AND KEEPING be a neglect of growing in holiness, the soul will never be soundly quiet, because it will be prone to question the truth of justification; and it is as proper for sin to raise doubts and fears in theconscience, as for rotten flesh and wood to breed worms; where there is not a pure conscience, there is not a pacified conscience," &e. Read the rest. Thus much I have been fain to premise,lest my Words for con- solation should occasion security and desolation. But now let me desire you to peruse the Direction and practice it. If when God hath given you assurance, or strong probabilities of your sincerity, you will' make useof it but only for that present time, you will pever, then, have a settled peace in your soul; besides the great wrong you do to Goal, by necessitating him tobe so often renew- ing such discoveries, and repeating the samewords to you so often over.' If your child offend you, would you have him, when he is pardoned, no longer to believe it than you are telling it him? Should he be still asking you over and over every day, ' Father, am I forgiven or no Should not one answer serve his turn? Will you not believe that yourmoney is in your purse or chest any longer than you are looking on it? Or that your corn is growing on your land, or your cattle in your grounds, any longer than you are looking on them ? By this course, a richman should have no more content than a beggar, longer than he is looking on his money, or goods, or lands ; and when he is looking on one,'he should again lose the comfort of all the rest. What hath God given you a memory for, but to lay up former apprehensions, and discoveries, and experiences, and make use of them on all meet occasions afterwards? Let me therefore persuadeyou to this great and necessary work. When God hath once resolvedyour doubts, and showed you the truth of your faith, love or obedience, write it down, if you can, in your book, (as I have advised you in my Treatise of Rest,) ' Such a day; upon,seriousperusal of my heart, I found it thus and thus with myself,' or at least, write it deep in your memory ; and do not suffer any fancies, or fears, or light surmises, to cause you to question this again, as long as you fall not from the obedienceor faith which you then discovered. Alas! man's apprehension is a most mutable thing! If you leave your soul open to every new apprehension, you will never be settled; you may think two contrary things of yourself in an hour. You have not always the same opportunity for right discerning, nor the same clearness of apprehension, nor the same outward means to help you, nor the same inward assistance of the Holy Ghost. When you have these, therefore, make use of them, and fix your wavering soul, and take your question and doubt as resolved, and do not tempt God, by calling him to new answers again and again,
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