Bolton - HP BV4500 .B62 1634

3 Generalldirer ionsfor a .........1,s17,%* rarity at all times alike peremptory in the point of affurance. You (hall not take him any weeke in the yeere ' any day in the weeke, any houre in theday, without a bold perfwaii- on , and proteftation , if need be, That he hopes to be faved as well as the precifeft. Hee is as confident this way, when he is cavilling againft the purity of the Saints andpow.. er of godlineffe ; as whenhe is the deepeft in his Pharifaicall devotions. 7. The prefumption of the Pharifee is ordinarily at the height, in hisheight ofoutward profperity ; and when God, aindle fhineth fairelieft upon his head withworldly bid. Pings. But the perfwafion of the Chriftian, is for the molt part then flrongeft, when the world molt frowneth upon him for his forwareineffe and inheate of per fecution. 8. Thofe that are deluded with a groundleffe confidence, have ordinarily beene fo conceited of themfelves, ever fince they may remember, or had any thoughts of heaven '.;` and that without confcioufneffe of any converfion, change, or fupernaturall fav ing workeupon their fouler at all.For though the devill feales is with more fecurity upon their hearts, by his counterfeit Angelicall glory ' . yet he findsmatter enough in our corrupt nature, miniftred for Inch a golden dreame, and imaginary caftle in the ayre. But the testimony of the Spirit, and that other true perfwafion is fupernaturall, and never felt before converfion : nor ever to be found but Ma regenerate collie. I doubt not, but many Chriflians to their fingular comfort and furtheraffurance, can tell their ex.. perience of both : Their boldperemptory ill grounded pre- ftunption in their unregenerate' time : and their now true, kindly, fweet perfwafion, fo muchenvyed and affaulted by Satan accompanying their converfion. 9,. Naturall prefumption,guilded over with the devils de- intim, ever ihrinkes in the wetting. Troubles of confcience, fitlytrials, heaity croffes, the face of thePrinceof terrour, difaftrousand difmall times, diffolve it into nothing. But the other true testimony holds out like armour of proof; againit tluckcft hailciot of all adverfary powers Na woy, it ig ont 7,...*

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