Houston-Packer Collection BV4253 .B85 1649 .B85 1649

through Naturall impa011itie.r. and upon all the means that do lead unto it : all's dead , all's gone:Ohlwe are very apt to be much difcouraged, & tomake ftrange conclufionswhen death comes upon the meanes: 'cis a hard thing to keep from filch conclufions : For the bufinefle comes to a Vote ( as it were ) it comes to a Vote before the Soule. The queftion is (fayth the Soule) whetherI (hall be faved or no ? As many as are for the Affirmative, fay, 1: I, fayes the Promife. Asmany as are for the Negative, fay, No: No, fayes Threatnings ; and, No, fayespilty Con- fcience ; No , no , no, fayes a thoufandfinnes. The que- ftion is , whether I (hall be delivered or no ? Iam in filch an AfigiElion, and ftraitneffe ; the queftion iswhether I fhall be delivered or no ? As many as are for the Affirmative, fay, I : 1, (ayes thePromife. As many as are for the Negative fay , No : No, fayes Providence; No , fay all fecond Cattle', and all the meanes round about ; No , no , no , fay a thou- fand fanner. Nowmy beloved , its a hard thing for a poor Soule to give an Affirmative with the bare Promife , when all elfe gives a Negative but the reafon is , becaufe this truth that now I am upon, is not by you; were but this truthby you, it were eaty to give an Affirmative with the bare Pro- mife, when death fits upon all the meanes. As for example: Suppofeour Armybe in the field, engaged with the enemy; a Troupe routed, a Regiment routed, a Wing routed; Come, ( fayes a carnall Souldier ) fellow Souldiers , fhift for your lives, for we are all undone and fpoil'cl : Nay, not fo, flay (fayes the beleevingSouldier) this is Gods way; when God intendsany great Mercy to his people, he does firft of all p t the fentence ofdeath upon it , and upon all the meanes that do leadunto it :and therefore, come, fall on, fall on, bravehearts, fall on ; for this is Godsway : and fo it proves many times. Or fuppofe a man. be in fome perfonall flraite or afiliElion: theDevil' , the Tempter he comes; ye fee in what ftraite ye are; ther's no meanes at all for your deliverance, you had as good take filch and fuch an indirect courfe ; why fhould you waite any longer ? Nay , fayes the Soule , but I have learned I

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