186 Direciimsforgetting and keeping and rife in trouble ofmind from one year to ano. ther. But its no fuch matter ; It is fo far from being beyond your reach or power to have theft Graces, though you would that they themfelves are nothing elfe but your very Willingnefs ; at leaft your Willingnefs to have Chrift is both your Faith and Love. lt may be faid therefore to be in the power ofyour Will, which is nothing elfe but that ritual Willingnefs which you have already. If therefore you are unwilling to have him, what makes you complain for want of the fenfe of his prefence, and the Affurance of his Love, and the Graces of his Spirit, as you frequently do ? It's ítrange to me, that people fhould make fo many complaints to God and men, and fpend fo many fad bours in fears and trouble, and all for want of that which they would not have : óf you be notWilling,he Wiling now : Ifyou fay you cannot; do as I. have before directed you : One hours fober, ferious thoughtsofGod and the world ,ofChrift and Satan, offin and Holinefs, ofHeaven and hell, and the dif- ferences of them, will do verymuch to make you willing. Yet miftake me not : Though I fay you may bave Chrift if you Will, and Faith and Love if you Will, and no man can truly fay, I would be laid to have Chrift (as he is offered) but Cannot et this Gladnefs; Confent or Willingnefs which I ention, is the effect of the fpecial workof the pirit, and was not in your power before you had it : nor is it yet fo in your power as to relievewith- of t Gods furtherhelp : but he that bath made you wiling, will not be wanting to maintain your willingnefs, Though I will fay to any man, You may
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