Baxter - BT785 B39 1657

33 z DireEtions for getting and keeping A fan&ified man cannot Grieve or Weep for fin when he will, or fo muchas he will : he cannot Love, Joy, be Zealous, &c. 'When he will : He may be truly Willing, and not Able : And is not this your Cafe ? And doth not 'Paul make it the Cafe of all Chriftians ? Gal. 5. 17. The f eJh luleth againft thefpirit, and the fpirit again/i the f e¡b, and thefe are contrary one to the other,fo that the cannot do the thing: that wewould. Take my Counfcl therefore in this, if you love not feltdeceiving and difquietnefs. Search whether you can fay unfeignedly, I L'ould with all my heart h.:ve C'hrili and hM quickening and fan1fyingSpirit , andhis foftni«gGrace, tobring my hardheart to Tendernefe,and my dull andblockifb foul to a lively frame! O that I could attain it .! And if you can truly fay thus, Biefs God that hash given you laying finceriry And then let all the reit of your Dulnefs, and Deadnefs and Hard- heartednefs be matter of daily forrow to you , and spare not, fo it be in Moderation, but lec it be no matter of Doubting Confefs it, complain of it, pray againft it, and Alive againft it : but do not denyGods Graces in you for it. Andhere let me mind you of one thing ; That it is a very ill di1}emper of fpirit when a man can mourn for nothing, but what Caufeth him to Doubt of his falvation : It is a great Corruption if when your Doubts are Refolved, and you are perfwaded of your falvation, if then you ceafe all your humi- liation and forrow for your fin : For you muff for- row that you have in you fuch a bodyof Death, and that which is fodifpleafing to God, and are able to pleafe and enjoy him no more, thoughyou werene- ver

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=