TO THE SAINT s REST. 145 you, that you should assist him in such a design as your damnation ? The time is nigh when God will 'search you. if it be but in this life by affliction, it will make you wish that you had tried and judged yourselves, that you might have escaped the judg- ment of God. It was a terrible voice to Adam, Where art thou? Hast thou 'eaten of the tree And to Cain, Where is thy brother.? Men " consider not iri their hearts, that I, saith the Lord, remember all their wickedness: now their own doingshave beset them about ; they are before my face. "(f) Consider also,. what would be the sweet effects- of this self - examina- tion.If thou be upright and godly, it will lead thee straight towards assurance of God's love; if thou be not though it will trouble thee at the present, yet it will tend to thy happiness, and at length lead thee to- the assurance of that happiness. Is it not a desirable thing to know what shall befal us hereafter? espe- cially what shall befall our souls ? and : what place and state we must be in for ever? And as the very knowledge itself is desirable, how much greater will the comfort be of that certainty of salvation ! What sweet thoughts wilt thou have of God ! All that greatness and justice, which are the terror of others, . will be thy joy. How sweet may be thy thoughts of Christ, and the blood lie hath shed, and the bene- fits he hath procured ! How welcome will the word of God be to thee, and how beautiful the very feet of those that bring it ! How sweet will be the pro- mises, when thou art sure they are thine own ! The very threatenings will occasion thy comfort, to re member that thou hast escaped them. What bold- ness and comfort mayest thou then have in, prayer, when thou canst say, Our Father, in full assurance ! It will make the Lord's supper a refreshing feast to, thy soul. It will 'multiply the sweetness of every common mercy. How comfortably mayest thou then undergo all afflictions ! How will it sweeten thy fore - thoughts of death and judgment, of heaven and (f)' Hosea vii. . '5
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