56 AP `P E NV 1 X. Numb. III. anfweryour particular Queftions. To the two fidi I anfwer : a. We havea fire 'Word to fly to for Direction, and many great and evidentPrinciples (as here the ` Natureof the CatholickChurch, etc.) to give us Light in the darker Points that ` depend upon them : and in fach a Cafe it dangerous gathering our Informati- ' ons about Truth or Duty, or Sin from dark and doubtful Providences, which are e not our Rule, but only fome Effects of the Will of God, that as to Events are ` clear, but as to Truth and Duty cantell us nothing or very little, but in full Sub= `ordination to our Rule, from which they mull receive their Light. Andof all ` Providences few are darker than Motions and Troubles from our own Thoughts, I fomany; and fecret, and powerful Caufes are there within us, and about us of ` Mifapprehenfrons and mifled Pallions, that its very dangerous boldly toJudge of the Mind of Godby our own dilturbedMinds ; when it is our Duty to judge our own Minds by God's, and God's Mind by his Word ; his particular Providences ` being mofkly but to help the Word in working in a Subordination to it. z. I `cannot be fore that know him not, but I fufpeet' by the Narrative, that this is Mr. L.'sCafe; r. His Heart being upright in what hehad before done, God in `Mercy gave into his Mind, that Light concerning Catholicifm and Brotherly ` Love, and other Truths contained in his Papers, which tended to his Satisfa bion and Recovery. 2. Upon the fight of this muchTruth, it mutt needs raife fome `Trouble in his Mind, that he had aeced contrarily before; and yet the Words of I the contrary Minded holding him in fufpence, andunrefolved about his future Pra&ice, at leaft, increafed his Trouble (an unrefolved Mind in great Matters Ibeing a Burden to it felt). 3. And the terrible Threats and hard Prognofticks ' of thefe Diffenters and their Cenfuresofhim, might yet fink deeper. For it is the ' wayof fome to fall upon our Pallions inftead of our Judgments, and ftir up ` Fears in us, inftead of convincing us. As the Papifis win abundance by arty telling ` them, that no others can be faved (as ifwe fhould be frightened to the P that ` will be molt uncharitable, when Charity is the Chriftians Badge). So I doubt `toomany do, that we havenow to fpeak of. g. The Apprehenfion of his Peo- ' piesDifcontent, andCome bad Confequents to them and himfelf, that he Appre- hended would follow his Return, did yet make the difturbance more. 5. The ` long and ferious Study of the Matter with much Intention, might yet go farther. e 6. And by all thefe means, 1 conjeéture he isfomewhat furprized with Melancho- ly. 7. And then (if that prove fo) itsvery hard to gather the Mind of God from ' his Difturbances; for theywill follow the Impreffes on his own cifiurbed Mind. 'Rut all thefe are but my dillant Conjectures fromwhat you write. But to coma nearer. ' 3. Whether he have contraeted any Melancholy or no, this is my Judgment ` of the Caufes of hisChanges. a. God caufed his Light andConvietions in much `Mercy, that's evident by the Conformity of his Affections here to theWord of ` God, and the Principles of Chriftianity. z. Satan envyed him and others the ' Mercy that was given in : and therefore I verily think he is thecaufe of his Hor- rors and Troubles, when he thinksof returning to Unity with Others, and who!- ' ly withdrawing himfelf from the Schifm : My Reafons are, r. Becaufe I know ' that the Work is of God, and Ergo, who but Satan fhould be againft it. z. Be-. ' caufe thatTroubling, and Terrifying, and Difturbing the Pallions is ufually his ' Work; efpecially when it is againflGod's Light. God worketh by Light, and `drawing the Heart to Truth and Goodnefs: But Satan ufually worketh by fir- ring in the Pallions to muddy the Judgment. 3. Common Experience tells . us, ` That it is his ordinary way, where oncehe bath got Power, to give quiet in Sin, ' and to trouble and terrify upon Thoughts of Recovery. Rereff. But how fhould hehave fuch Power with a Servant of God ? This leadeth me more particularly ` to anfwer your firlt Queflion. God frequently givech him fuch Power over his ` ownServants, r. When the Service we are upon is arecovering Work, which im- ' plyeth our former Guilt. It was no fmall Sin (though ignorantly committed by ` an hon ft Heart) for Mr. L. to feparateand draw fo.many with him, and put fo `much Credit and Countenance upon a Caufe, . that hathmade filch fád andmite- ` reble work among the Saints : O ! . What Churches might we have had by this ` time in England, if the Enemy hadnot made ufe of our dividing Friends to his. `Advantage, and todo his Work. Now you muffnot marvel if the Acculer and Executioner have fome Power gt. 'ven him to be a Vexation to a Godly- Man after fuch Guilt. And indeed fo few ' look back that fall into Divifions, that Mr. L. fhould not grudge at alittle Perplex- ` icy that meets him inshe way of fogreat a Mercy. An ingenuous Mind would ' not
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