i6© Virettionsforgetting and keeping DIRECTION XIX. i9. Further underftand That Tbofe fewmho do attain to A f furance, have it not either perfeEtly or conflantly (for the molt part) but mixt with imper. fettion, and oft cloudedand interrupted. Hat the higheft Affurance on earth is impefeff, I have Mewedyou elfewhere. If we be imper- fe&, and our faith impeded, and the knowledge of our own hearts impeded , and all our eviden- tes and graces imperfe&; thenour Aífurance muff needs be impeded alto. TodreamofPerfe&ion on earth, is todreamofHeaven on earth : And if Af- furance may be here perfe&, why not all our Gra- ces ? Even when all Doubtings areovercome, yet is Atfurance far lliort of the higheft degree. Befides that meafure of Affurance which godly men do partake of, hath here its many fad inter- ruptions, in the molt. Upon the prevalency of Temptations, and the hidings of Gods face, their fouls are oft left in a Rateoffadnefs, that were but lately as in the arms of Chriff. How fully might this be proved from theexamples ofSob, David, fe- rer», and others in Scriptdre ? and much more abundantly
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