190 The Spirituall-ading.cof Faith comparifons between one duty and another; but if there be any compares,this a& of beleeving when all meanes feeme to lie dead before us , is more then all thy prayers and teares : Thou crieft out and fay& , Oh I that I had tearer in prayer , Oh ! that God would inlarge my heart in prayer , Oh ! that God would bre*. this hard heart ; and bleed be the Lord indeed when fo it is. But now,art thou in fuch a cafe? haft thou a profpea of all thy iins,and all means feem to lie dead before thee? and doeft thounow go unto Jefus Chrift, Paying to him , Ah , Lord, I have been a great and a wretched tanner; yet now, hearing of thy free and rich grace , I do throw my felfe upon thee; Lord , if thou killeft mee , yet I will truft in thee; through thy grace, I will never returne againe unto folly ; onely Lord, I do leane my Souleupon thee ; as for comfort, Lord give me comfort when thou wilt ; onely, I leane my Soule upon thee ? I tell thee , this a6t of thy Faith is more pleating to God, then thy twentyyears teares, then thy twentyyears prayers, if there be any compare. But why then (my Beloved) fhould you look at this as a matter of prefumption , to truft upon God and upon Chrift in this condition ? know 'cis your way unto Jefus chriff when all meanes faile ; Oh ! 'cis the only. way for your deli- verance , deliverance from your finnes , and the feare of your finnes ; carry this rule home along with you ; delive- rance is then neareft when Faith workes higheft, and Faith then workes higheft when all means are loweft. Donot Rand poring then , ( Chriftian ) don't Rand poring upon the deadneffe of the meanes , or the deadneffe of thine owne heart. As the fight , beholding , and gazing upon beau- ty, is a fnare , and a temptation to thole that are given to wantonneffe : and the fight of much. gold and fil- ver and fine houfes , a temptation to thofe that are given to worldlineffe : So , the fight , and behold- ing of the deadnefle of the meanes, is a great fnare and temptation to thole that are given.to doubting and thofe that are given to unbeliefe. Does the meanes therefore lie dead before
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