SPIRITUAL PEACE AND COMFORT. 4o9 Lastly, Remember this, that it is not enough that you once opened your cese to your pastor, but do it as often as necessity úrgeth you to call for his advice ; though not on every light occa- sion. Live in such dependenge on the dadvìce and guidance of your pastor (under Christ) for your soul as,you do on the advice of the physician for your body. Read Mal. u. 7. And let minis- ters read 6, 8, 9. Direct. XXXII 'As ever you would live in peace,-and com- fort, and wellpleasing unto God, be sure that you understand and deeply consider wherein the height of a Christian life and the greatest' part of our duty doth consist; to wit. In a loving delight in God, and a thankful and cheerful obedience to his will ; and then make this your constant aim, and be still aspiring after it, and let all other affections and endeavors be subservient untp this.' This one rule, well practiced, would do wonders on the souls of poor Christians,tin dispellingall their fears and troubles, and help- ing not only to a settled peace, but to live in the most comfortable state that can be expected upon earth. Write therefore these two or three words deep in your understandings and memory; that the life which God is best pleased with, and we should be always en- deavoring,.is a loving delight in God through Christ, and a thank- ful.and cheerful 8bedience to hint. I do not say, that godly sores rows, and fears, and jealousies are no duties ; but these are the great duties,to which the rest should all subserve. Misapprehend- ing the state ofduty, and the very nature of a Christian life, must needs make sad distempers in men's hearts and conversations. }Many Christians look upon broken-heartedness, and much grieving, and weeping for sin, as if it were the great thing that God delight - eth in, and requireth of them; and therefore they bend all their endeavors this way, and are still striying'with.their hearts to Igeak them more, and wringing their consciences to squeeze out some tears; and they think no sermon, no prayer, no meditation, speeds so well with them, as that which can help,them to grieve or weep. I am far from persuading men against humiliation, and godlysorrow, and tenderness of heart. But yet Í must tell you, that this is a sore error that you lay so much upon it, and so m' uch overlook that great and noble work and state to which it tendeth. Do you think that God bath any pleasure in your sorrows as such ? Doth it do him good to see you dejected, afflicted and tormented? Alas! it is only as your sorrows do kill your sins, and mortify your fleshly lusts, and prepare for your peace and joys, that God regards them. Because- Óod doth speak comfortably to troubled, drooping spirits, and tells them that he delighteth in the contrite, and loveth the humble, and bindeth up the broken-hearted; therefore men, misun- derstandinghim, do think they should do nothing, but be still break-
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