SPIRITUAL PEACE AND COMFORT,, 441 of lies, but not that there is any such opinion or practice in hell. He that tempts others to deny the Godhead, the Christian faith, the Scripture, the life to come, doth no whit doubt of any one of them himself, but believes and trembles. O fearful blindness of theprofessors ofreligion, that will hear, ifnot receive these blasphe- mies from the mouth of an apostate professor, which they would, abhor if it came immediately from the devil himself. With what sad complaints and tremblings do poor sinners cry out, (and not without cause,) '0, I am haunted with such blasphemous tempta- tions, That I am afraid lest God should suddenly destroy me, that ever such thoughts should come into my heart.' But if an instru- ment of the devil come and plead against the Scripture, or the life to come, or Christ himself, theywill hear himwith lessdetestation. The devil knows that familiarity will cause us to take that from a man, which we would abhor from the devil himself immediately. I intend not to give you now a particular preservationagainst each of these temptations. Only let me tell you, that this is the direct way to infidelity, apostasy, and the sin against the Holy Ghost ; and ifby any seducers the devil do overcome you herein, you are lost forever, and there will be no more sacrifice for your sin, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and that fire which shall devour the adversaries of Christ. Doubt 18. '.I have so great fear of death, and unwillingness to be with God, that I am afraid I have no grace ; for ifI had Paul's spirit, I should be able to say with him, " I desire to depart andbe with Christ ;" whereas now, no news would be to me more unwel- come.' Anse. There is a loathness to die that comes from a desire to do God more service ; and another that comes from an apprehen- sion of unreadiness, when we would fain have more assurance of salvation first, br would be fitter to meet our Lord. Blame not a man to be somewhat backward, that knows it must go with him for- ever in heaven or hell, according as he is found at death. But these two be not so much a loathness to die, as a loathness to die now at this time. There is also in all men living, good and bad, a natural abhorrence and fear of death. God hath put this into men's nature (even in innocency) to be his great meansof govern- ing the world. No man.would live in order, or be kept in obedi- ence, but for this. He that cares not for his own life is master of another's. Grace doth not root out this abhorrence of death, no more than it unmanneth us ; only it restrains it from excess, and so far overcometh the violence of the passion, by the apprehen- sions of a better life beyond death, that a believer may the more quietly and willingly submit to it. Paul himself desireth not death, but the life which followeth it. " He desireth to depart and be VOL. r. 56
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