436 DIRECTÍONS FOR GETTÌNG AND KEEPING of the sincerity of their faith and 'obedience; and therefore in the name of God, beware. And let the troubled soul make this the matter of his moderate humiliation, and spare not. Bewail it be- fore God. Take shame to yourself, and freely confess it, when you are called to it before men. Favor it not, and deal not gently with it, ifyou would have peace ; but we give glory to God, by taking the just dishonor to yourselves. Tender dealing is an -ill sign, and hath sad effects. But yet for every sinagainst knowledge, to doubt of the truth' of grace, is not right, much less to doubt ot the pardon of that sin when we truly repent ofit. Are you un- feignedly sorry for your sins against conscience, and resolve against them for the future, through the help of God's grace ? If so, then that sin is pardoned now, through the blood of Christ believed in, whether you had then grace or not. Doubt 16. ' But I have such corruptions in my nature, that I cannot overcome. I have such a passionate nature, and such 'a vanity of mind, and such worldly desires, that though I pray and strive against them daily, yet do they prevail. And it is not striv- ing without overcoming that will prove the truth of grace in any. Besides, I do not grow in grace, as all God's people do.' Aim. 1.' Do you think sin Is not overcome as long as it dwelleth in us, and daily troubleth us, and is working in ús? Paul saith, " The evil that I wyould not do, that I do ; " and, "We cannot do the things we would." And yet Paul was not overcome with these sins, nor had they dominion over him. You must considerof these sins as in the habit, or in the act. In the habit as they are in the passions theywill be still strong ; but as they are in the will they are weak and overcome. Had you not rather you were void of these passions than not, and that you might restrain them in the act ? Are younot wearyof them, and daily pray and strive against them ? If so, it seems they have not your will. And for the actual passion (as I may call it) itself, you must distinguish between, 1. Those which the will bath full power of, and which it hath' but partial .power over. 2. And between the several degrees of the passion. 3. And between the inward passion and the outward expressions. Some degree of anger and of lust will oft stir in theheart, wheth- er we will or not. But I hope you restrain it in the degree ; and much more from breaking out into practices of lust, or cursed speeches, or railings, backbitings, slanderings, or revenge. For these your will, if sanctified, bath power to command. Even the acts of our corruptions, as well as the habits, will stick by ús in this life ; but if it be in gross sins, or avoidable infirmities carelessly or willfully continued, I can tell you a better way to assurance and comfort than your complaints are. Instead of being .afraid lest; feu cannot have your sin and Christ together, do but snore hearti-
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