Houston-Packer Collection BV4253 .B85 1649 .B85 1649

through Natural' impoffibilities. 193 the deadrieffe of his own body. And in this he had an eye ,unto jefus Chrift : for this was imputed to him for righte- oufbeffe ; and herein he is held forth as an example to us that beleeve with a fultifying faith,in this chapter. So that where ever there is true, laving, juflifying faith, it carries a man through all difficulties , through all natural' difcourage- ments. For the clearing whereof, I null deliver my fen in thefe foure things. Firfl, I will thew you,That the way to Neu Chrig is clog- ged withmany difficulties, andnaturall difcouragements: this as a rice unto all the reft. Secondly,That true, lavingfaith, Will carry one through all thefe. Thirdly, That nothing elle can do it. And Fourthly , What it is in t rue, faviv, juftifyingFaith, that does it ? How this Faith comes to do it ? Firfi, The way to?efus Chrifl is cloggedWith many a'tificul- 1., ties, or natural!difcouragements. No fooner does a man be- gin to looke after Chrift, but difficulties, and natural' difcou- ragements do arife ; and they are preft by Satan with much ; violence. When the children ofIfrael began to make out I of Egypt, 'Pharoah doubles their taske , and labours to make I their way grievous, and troublous. And fo foone as a foule begins to look after Chrift ; Satan, and the world labours to make his way troublous. The Devill is the great hunter of Soules : So'long as the game goes well with the hunter, and he is going into his fnare, he makes no noife ; but if once the Hare, or the game begin todecline the fnare, and go another way, thenhe hoopes, and he hollowes, and he makes a noife, that he may fare it into the fnare againe. And fo, as long as men are going into the Devils fnare , he makes no noife ; but if once they begin to turne afide from his fnare, then he raifes Town &Country,and a great noife is made to fcare the foule in againeRe knowes that a candle may be eafily blown into light, when 'cis new put out. Taul met with no buffet- ings of Satan,till he had been taken up into the third heavens ,1 B b 2 arid

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