Vß R. z. Epbefian.r;Chap. 1. 17 her, then it is to the fenders : fo the world, an adultereffe, heraffedti- ons are altogetheron the creatures and good benefits given them, no- thing in comparifon, upon God himfelf: But the true fpeciall Grace maketh us love him, who hath loved us above all things, delight our (elves in him , fay , What have I in heaven but him, in earth in corn - parifon of him ? Thus then we fee that true Peace commeth from fight and experienceof Gods fpeciall grace to us, and howwe may diftin- guifh this fpeciall favour. But before we palfe to the Life, a queftion may be asked, viZ. Whethera man may not be in favour with God, and yet without this Peace e To which I anfwer briefly : Firff, that he may be infavour , and want this outward fenfible Peace in him. felt: The reafon is, becaufe this followeth not my being in favour; but my knowing and my being perfwadedthat I am in favour : Now it is not impoffible for a man to lofe his fenfe and perfwafion, which yer-whilehe bath hadof being in favour with God, his faith may be for a time in a fwoon, and overcall with unbeleefe. Secondly, I fay, though a man may be without this operation ofPeace, yet the grace of the Spirit, which as a root dothbeare thisfruit, cannot fàile in any who is in Gods favour : the fruit maybe pulled,when the tree it felf ftandeth ftill,thus in joy ; Faith we may likewife diflinguifh, the feed of God abiding inus, though thefe outward fecondary eflcEts are not aiwayes confpicuous. . Seeing then that true Peace is fuch as fpringeth from this fpeciall mercy, let us take heed we be notdeceived with falfe Peace. Look into thy felf, what hath made thee think thou art in Gods favour: Is this it a becaufe he profpereth thee in outward things e Alas,thoubuildeft upon fands : The beanshave the fruits ofhis Gracethis way, fo farre as agreeth with their kinde, no Idle then thy fell. There is a Peace' in theTents ofthe wickedones ; Look lob 21.9. There is an cafe which doth flay the foolifh ; which is the eafe that men doe live in, it corn. meth notfrom feeling this fpeciall grace toward them,but from thefke- pineffe ofthe confcience, which makeththem without feeling ; from ignorance, which maketh them without knowledge of the eviil immi- nent over them. ifa man hath twentydifeafes never fo painfull, while he is fail afleep, he is at cafe, becaufehis fenfes are bound, not becaufe his difeafes are healed. So again,fay a man were in a houle ready to fall onhishead, let him know nothingofthe danger, he is as quiet as ifall were tale. Thus mens foules are afleep, and ignorant of theirperill : Take heed of this tick fleep, left it pain you atwaking : take heed left while you fay Peace, Peace, that deltruétion benot at the doores. Yea, let the Lords children takeheed, who have full peace, but notfrom the grounds above rehearfed ; their peacecommeth not from feeling Phy- fickwherewith topurgetheir tick foules, from notexercifing their fee- ble ftrengths in works of repentance, faith, thankfulneffe, forgetting themfelves in humane occafions and contentments, fromLaodicean- like conceits. A body of ill habit, while you flirre it not with fouie courfes which fight with fuck umours, it is quiet; a lame legge C 3 while yf, r;
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