comfortable walking with God. 353 2. That they fhould ere& Tribunals inother mensconfcien- ces (which is Gods Royall prerogative ; ) and fo mifcenfure their hearts, to their owne hardening. 3. That they fhould not bee able to difcerne betweene being haled and hurried, as it were, into Tome titre; againft the generall purpofe ofa mans heart, and praaifeofhis life, by the violence ofCome temptation, pa ffion, or impetuous fudden infnarement,which heafter heartily bewailes with much bitterneffe offpirit, and exemplary repentance, willing; if Godwere fo pleafed, to re- decme the fcandall ofhis fall with the fhedding ofhis blood; takingoccation thereupon to walke more warily, and to doe more nobly in the fervice ofhis God, all the dayes ofhis life: and a refolveddelightful! wallowing in variety of lufts, plea- lures, andgroffe finnes, without any repentance or reformati- on at all. I conclude the whole point, and a good part ofiny mea- ning in the words ofan excellent Writer, not much altered. I not onely. hold it lawfull to rejoyce in thole good things, wherewith Godhath bleffed us in any kinde whatfoever, e- fpecially the faving gifts of the holy Ghoft ; but a note of much unthankefulneffe , to entertaine themwith a fullen and unfeelingdifpofition. Yet all humane affAions and endow- ments, wherein duereverence to God is wanting, are nobet- ter thenobfcure clouds, hindring the influence of that bleffed Light, which clarifies theConk of man, and predifpofeth it cob:5 thebrightneffe ofeternall felicitie. So that infolent joy and overweening which a man in the pride of his vaine ima- gination, conceivethofhis owne worth, clothabove all other paffionAlaft our mindes , as it were, with lightning, and make, us refl en our thoughts upon our own teeming inherent goodnefle ; forgetting the whileft Him,to whom weeare in- debtedfor our very Being : and betides, it blowes upon our gifts with inch amalignant humour , that they alio become unfruitful], andunprofi,able to others. Thus muchconcerning the firft extreame and errour in ma,- nagingour fpiriniall efiate, to wit, a proude overprizing of our owne graces with a conceited over-weening felfe efti- mation ii
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