17 6 DireElionsforgetting and keeping that all grace, or peace at leali is gone with them. Take heed of thefe expetations, And to fatisfie you let me tell you thefe tw;o--or three things 1. A fetled calm and peace of foul is a great Mer- cy, andnot to be undervalued and looked at as No- thing. z. The higheft raptures and paßionate feel- ingNoyes, are ufually of molt doubtful fincerity. Not that I would have any fufpecf the fincerity of them without caufe : but fuch pafsioras are not fo certain figns of Grace, as the fetled frame of the undertkanding andwill : nor can we fn ea6ly know that they are of the Spirit, and they are liable to more queftioning and have in them a great- er Pofsibility of deceit. Doubtlefs it is very much that Phantafie and Melancholy , and fpe- cially a natural weaknefs and movable temper will do in fuch cafes. Mark whether it be not moftly thefe three forts ofpeople that have or pre. tend tohave fuch extraordinary raptures and feel- ings of joy. i . Women and others that are moll pafsionate. 2. Melancholy People. 3. Men that by erroneous opinions have loft almoft all their un- deritandings in their Phantafies, and live like men in a continual dream. het I doubt not butblid men have oft high joyes ; and more we might all have, if wedid our duty :And Iwould haveno Chriftiancon- tent himfelf with a dull quietnefsoffpirit, u t by all means pofsible tobe much in labouring to rejoyce in God, and railing their fouls to heavenly delights Owhat lives do we lofe, which we might enjoy ! But mymeaning is this : Look at thefe joyes and delights as Duties and as mercies, but look not at them as Marks of trial; fo as toplace more ne. cefsity
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