t4 .ifcaurfé of happinef. remiffion of firms, fpirituall comforts, and eternal! life,and particularly fealed unto them by the Spirit of thefameword. Solomon confirmes this worthy practice of his father, byhis tflimony,`Pro. i 2.5. The thoughts ofthe iuf are right, iudge- ment,or iuflice ; for fo theword lignifies in the Originall; bast thefubtiledevices ofthe wicked are deceit. The thoughts of all unregenerate men are commonly, either rooting intheearth, or drowned in pleafures, or running after preferment, or ran- ging up and downe idly and prophanely, or fruitlefly me lancholike ; or iffometimes theyglance, or fettle theinfelves upon good things, they are í1i11 as a menftruous clout, and abhomination to theLord : becaufe their confciences arenot renewed,their hearts purged,their perfons faneìified and ac- cepted. But the thoughts ofevery child ofGod are ordinari- ly working for the maintenance and furtheringof Godsglo- ry and good caufes; for procuring true good to their bre- thren, efpecially in fpirituall things ; for increafing gracein themfelves, and their flore ofcomfort againft thedayof tri- a11. And iffobe (which fometimesbefalls thebefl) they be croft by tinfoil motions in themfelves,orfuggeflionsofsatan; yet by their furprizingand fuppreffing them at thevery lirff riling andaffault, and by prefent repentance, they are un- doubtedly everpardoned unto them inChrift jefus. Give me leave, Ipray you,to illuflrate this varietyand dif- ferenceof thoughts (which I havenowlargely laid downe unto you) in our felves, for theneerer preffing ófour confci ences,and that in the matter ofEle&ions. Let us imagine a notorious firmer to have a voice and L hand in fuch bufineffe : his very fitfl thoughts would be to haveno thought at all of Oath or Statute, of confcience or honefly, ofhonour of his Colledge,or good ofthe Church : but would refolve out of the prophane principles of his vaft confcience, and by the benefit of a large acception of cha- rity, tobe indifferent for all commers. Onelyinhis choice, he wouldhave an eye to the maine, that the fiate of good- feIlowfhip fhould take no difparagement or diminution ; and therefore hee would moft carefully call about with himfelfe 131
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