Bolton - Houston-Packer Collection BX9339.B65 A2 1641

comfortable walking with God. drayes of humiliation, bookes ofbell relifh to a fpirituall tame,&a. But nowon the contrary' fide, the prefumptuous confidence andgroundleffe conceits,lie in the Pharifees bo- fome wich much quietneffe and fecuritie;without doubting, ditiicultie,contradi&iofl, orany fuchadoe.Thereafonis, his carnali heart is well enough content, and meddles not ; be- caufe it (till feedes upon the delights of his darling finne, without difturbance. Satan is too fubtillto enterpofe, tempt, or interrupt, in filch a cafe. Forbee well knoweth that his foundation is falfehood, his hope of heaven but a golden dreame ; and therefore in policy he holds hispeace, that hee may holdhim the fafler. Take noticeby theway ; that that very thingwhich makes many a true-heartedChrittian to doubt of himfelfe, and of the foundneffe of his fpirituall hate, thould put himout ofall doubt; evenoftenexercife with doubts, temptations, multi- plied attemptsagainfl his faith, and afafurance of Gods love; prayed againtl, humbly refitted and oppofed withcleaving unto the tender-heartedneffeofChrift, and truth ofhis pros mifes,though for theprefent hee hath little or no feeling; no fuch joyand peace In fobeleeving : And that very thing up- on which thedeluded Onesdoe build, andmany times boat themfelves towit, that they are untroubled, untempted, in point offaith, andpretended affurance ; may retornean in- fallible remonftrance to their owneconfciences, that they are certainelykleceived. For doubtief e, thatfaithwhich is never afl'aultedwith doubting, isbut a fancy. Af uredly that affu- rance which isever fecure, is but adreame. Many a Pharifee !tends by the bed-fide, of the fincere Profeffor, vifited with atfliftionof confcience,and many heavy temptations; fecret- lyand finfully pleafing himfelf in the unbleffed calmeneffeof a groundleffe confidence, and in his freedome from fuch ter-' rorsand fpirituall troubles : when as himfelfe is-likean Oxe fatting in the green palliates of impunity and outward prof - peritie fortheday of flaughter : But theaflliEted party is as precious gold,purifying in the Lords refining furnace, that be mayafterward come.out anlshine more gloriously. 4. In .;

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