SPIRITnAL PEACE AND COMFORT. 439 mellow sweetness. Are not you less censorious and more peace- able than heretofore? d tell you that is a more noble growth than a great deal of austere and bitter, youthful, censorious, dividing zeal of many will prove. Märk most aged, experienced Christians, that walk,uprightly, and you will find that they quite outstrip the younger, '1. In experience, knowledge, prudence, and soundness of judgment. 2. Inwell-settled resolutions for Christ, his truth, and cause. 3. In a love of peace, especially in the church, and a hatred of dissensions, perverse contendings and divisions. If you can show thisgrowth, say not that you do not grow. 3. But suppose you do not grow, should you therefore deny the sincerity of your grace ? I would not persuade any soul that they grow when they do not. But if you do not, be humbled for it, and endeavor it for the future. Make it your desire and daily business, and spare not still. Lie not complaining, but rouse up your soul, and see what is amiss, and set upon neglected duties, and remove those corruptions that hinder your growth. Converse with growing Christians, and under quickening means; endeavor the good of other men's souls as well as your own; and then you will find that growth which will silence this doubt, and do much more for you than that. Doubt 17. ' I am troubled with such blasphemous thoughts and temptations to unbelief, even against God, and Christ, and Scrip- ture, and the life to come, that I doubt I have no faith.' Amu,. To be tempted is no sign of gracelessness, but to yield to the temptation ; not every yielding neither, but to be overcome of the temptation. Mostmelancholy people, especially that have any knowledge in religion, are frequently haunted with blasphemous temptations. I have oft wondered that the devil should have such a power and advantage in the predominancy of that distemper, Scarce one person of ten, who ever was with me in deep melan- choly, either for the cure ofbody or mind, but hath been haunted with these blasphemous thoughts; and that so impetuously and violently set on and followed, that it might appear to be from the devil; yea, even many that never seemed godly, or to mind any such thing before. I confess it bath been a strengthening to my own faith, to see the devil such an enemy to the Christian faith ; yea, to the Godhead itself. But perhaps you will say, ' It is not meretemptation from Satan that I complain of; but it takes too much with my sinful heart. I am ready to doubt ofttimes whether there be a God, or whether his providence determine of the things here below ; or whether Scrip- ture be true, or the soul immortal,' &c. Aunty. This is a very great sin, and you ought to bewail and abhor it, and, in the name of God, make notlight of it, but look to
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