112 Satanspower toTempt ; andChrift's love to, forth filth, and much frowardnefs and impatiency in the time ofaffliEtion, when you took them for good natured people before, and thought there was no fuchfrowardnefs in them, and no fuch impatiency : So in the time of temp- tation ,alfo take heed of that. In the time of aillietion, men are apt to make anevil conflrualon, and interpretation of things : Ps filiEtion raifes Pafrion, and Paffion puts other colors upon things than formerly ; and fo in time oftemp- tation, we are apt to make firange confira.tions of Gods dealings, and Chriff's dealings with us : take heed of that. In time of affliaion, men areapt to change their behaviour; David did fo, he let fall his fpittle upon his beard, and faigned himfelf mad ; he changed his behaviour : and fo are menapt to change their behaviour in times of temptati- on : take heed ofthat. In timeofaffliElion, men are apt to ftint,and limit Cod, and fay, Can God provide a table now ? and can God delivernow ? and fo alfo in the time of temptation, men are apt to fay, Can God provide now ? & can God deliver now ? and fo flint, and limit the Holy One of Ifrael ; take heed ofthat. In the clay, of affli&ion a. gracious heart does rather rejoyce that he 'lath anyoppor- tunity to exercifehis grace,thanmourn for his prefent bur. 1 den:Co doyou now.In the day ofaffli6lion,a gracious heart doth more define to be cleanfed, than to be delivered; wifhes rather that his heart may be fan& fied by his affliaion, thg that his afiliElion may be removed. There is fornthint ofa fuffering (yehave heard) in every temptation : now then, does a temptation arife,and preffe in upon you ; Go to the Lord and fay, Lord, though I meet with hard things from the hand of my temptations, -8z thefe temptations havelien long uponme -: -yet I &lather chute: Cracb thant:Reace; rather to be Cleanfed,thantorbeDelivered : IOWray belo- ved, how well might it beWith us, ifwe didbut improve ur temptations ? what againing day, what a learning day. might the day oftemptation be? yea, whatan hArve_it-day Anita us, when Satan defines:toWinnow,te .3 . r . - ziry. but you will ray untome, Ir. .e, are.groakly*Wed in, this: matter .....o......e...... a................0
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