T VIII. The Godly areWrithedasapSan iffcél- ?SO Paid dlhrahom ftaggered not through unbelief, Rom. 4. O. That implyerh, that there are temptations, which doe as is were give a mad a great blow in the bead, making him dizzy and ftaggering. Now as a man in fuch an unex- peßed blow knoweth not what he doth, not underftandeth himfelf; fo ncí- they doth a Chrittian in filch temptations. Remember therefore thy (elf in this black condition : Say, I am not wife enough; nor able enough to judge my felt Secondly, Arc thou indoubt about thy condition ? confider Whether there be not fome great fincommitted, and unrepented of, that doth ju[tly provoke God tocalt thee inthisdárkneffe. This was Davidscafe after (lade fool enormities; then hecouldnot cell what to fay, or think of himfelf. This David infinparech whenhe prayeth foearne(lly for truth in the inward part's, Pjalme 5 r. Wonder not then tf filth foggy milts raffle fo great a darkrseffe, that it obfcure the verySun. Thou de(irelt impoffibilicies ; thou woúldit have evidenceof faoftifitation, when its evident thou doll not mortifie thy lions ; Therefore repair that crack in thy building,that leak in thy Ship. David in another Pfalme 3 i. fpeaketh alto that he hadno quietnelle in his bones, till he had confeffed that finuewhich troub- led him. Doe not then deceive My own foul ; till,thou háíí put that Dali1 away from thee, never think to enjoy the joy of the Lord z which is chi flrength. Thirdly, It may he thoudoftnot difting:n(1i between the prefence of Grace and the power ofit;between weakgraces and thonggraces. And that which islictle,oe which is not to thy defireand mind , thou accountell nothing at all.A little infant bath a mans nature in him, as well as he that is grown. As it was in the building of the Temple, they were not to defpife theday of [mill things ; fo neither ii a godly man tocontemnor difregard the beginnings, and thefmali things of grace. OurSaviour would not defpife the fmoakingFlax,and wilt thou ?,Take heed there= foreof chinking thouhaft no evidences, becaufe they beimperfect andweak: One (park argues fire as wellas an whole flame. The childof God while helooketh to therule, and confiderethwhat heought eo be, never remembers that the Conformi- tyto thisrule is more or leffe in thole that believe; fo then though thouart in tli lowc(t form, yet thouart (till in Clangs Iehool, andneedeff to look backward for what hathbeen done, and fore-warríd for what remáinech co be done. Fourthly, remember the evidencesthou hall enjoyed formerly. This ii a fpedal wayto keepthe heart up againft ail affaults. The time lath been when thou didle walk in the,comfortable demonttrationsof grace in thy heartand life. The tithe Was, when light did thine into thy bteall and thou couldft withmuch thankfulnefie acknowledge the good things God wrought for thee ; let not then the prefcnt darknefle obfcure all formerlight; live by the remembranceof what thou halt file, if thou canftnot by anyprefent fade and experience ; for if ever thou haft upon goodgrounds difcoveredthy Pelf tobe in the (fate of fanftification, thou arc (till: Whátfoever thy preteritfears may be to the contrary,God is the fame , Chritt and the promife continue [till the fame. Think thenof chofeBottles of teats Mob haft $Iled,and remember it was once day, thoughnow it be night , and if will beday again. Fifthly, lay down this alfo for a true Ind comfortable rule, That if thöü canif not finde fuchmarks of grape, yet if there be caruell: delires and ftrong groans af- ter there, there is grace begun in thee. Thefe fprouts cannot be, but where ianef cation is. Hence it is, that thole who hungerand rhirf} after righreou/uef are faid tobe blelfed, becaufethey (hall befatisfied, c 1arsh, q. Thoughtherefore eorrup- Lions arepotent, theybear theedown, earthly affe lions,immoderate pillions are prevalent overthee; yet becaufe thou paoteff and breatheft after more grace, this isan argumentof fpirituall life in thee. Paulthat complained of the Law of fnne withinhim, found altothe lifeof Gracewithin him ; to that aslong as thou doll nöc Willingly giveup thy felt co fin, and obedience to the tufts tbereof , bere is rid pNxtéetr. sá 3=
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