36 TheDatirine,Dutysn4 ufefelneffof Aj[urance. SECT. Ì. tentunder thofe black defertions, though thou knoweft not.how it is with thee, yet Gods end is good, tokeep thee low and weary of fine 2. Secondly, HerebyGodWould kep its lowand humble in our [elves. We many times upon the difcoveries ofGods works on our heartsware apt to grow high and contemn others ; we are apt to think God hath railed usup above others , that we know and feel moreof Godthen other mendo. Now that all filch worms of pride maybe killed inus, God hides his face from us and thereby we fee no- thingbut fin and weakneffes inus ; all our whole life appeareth to its nothing,but as Anfelms did to him, Aut peccatum,autfterilitas,either finor barrennefs. When thy heart feeth nothing but finneround about thee then thou canif lie beforethe throne of God who is rich in grace,like Lazarue before the rich mans gate full of fores ; and as Chryfologus faid of him, that he had Tot clamantia Ora, pot vul- nera, as many mouths crying for help, ashe had fores, fo wilt thou have as ma- ny mouths begging for pardon, as thou haftfins and infirmities. It is faid ofMa- fes his face, that it did Thine fo, as thepeopleof Ifrael were not able to behold it, andyet heknew not ofit. Howexcellent is it when others can behold and admire the graces of God in thee, yet thouapprehend none ofthefe in thyown felf I It wasGregoricsexpreffion, That a man ought Nefciendo.['cire, & [ciendo nefcire,by not knowing to know,and by knowing not to know thegraces of God in him. Thirdly, Godmay therefore keep Affurance from our knowledge, that fo When live have it, Wemay themore it, and the moreprize it; taking the greaterheed how the laic it. We fee theChurch in theCanticles, when thehad defpifedher Spou- fes love, how earneff thewas toget it again, but it coif hermuch ere the could have it. Sol nifi cum deficitfjaeltatorcm non habet, faid Seneca , No body admires theSun unleffe wheneclipfed,foneither do any highlyefteem the favourand love of God, unleffe when in the Joffe of it. As it is in temporal mercies, fo in fpiri- tual, they are prized Careadomagic , quam habendo ,'by the wanting of them, more then thehaving of them : Doff thou therefore pray, and again pray for Affurance, yet canii not obtain it ? then think this delay may be to encreafe my appetite the more after it , the more toblefle God when my foui [hall en- joy ir. Fourthly, Goddoth it that thoumayydcmonflrate thy obedience unto him, and give the greater honour to him. For to relie upon God by faith , when thou hail no fenfible teffimonies of his loveto thee, is the purefland meereff all of obedi- ence thatcan be. Such faith ofadherence did Chriff put forth in his agonies. A man maydefire Affurance, as it breeds peace andeafe tohis foul, but to depend upon God in fpiritualdeferrions,is wholly to give ail toGod and nothing to him- felf; lush a faith is a kinde of a fpiritual Martyrdom. The way of Affurance brings morecomfort to thy Pelf, but theway of believing gives more glory to God. When Abraham did not ftaggerinhis Faith, though Sarahswomb was a deadwomb, this was givingglory to God. No leffe is thy, aélion, when thou overlookeflail thyown fenfe, feeling and fad temptations, trotting in God for acceptance. To walk by Affurance is a kinde ofwalking by fenfe, and it fuppo_ feth us children, if we cannot be quiet unleffe in the mothersbofom. 5. Fifthly, Godwithholdeth thefenfe ofpardon, that thou mayefi be an experienced Chriftian able to comfort others in their dáfreffe. This is true of Chrilf himfelf,that he was tempted about the wrath ofGod, that fo hemight havea fympathy and fellow- feeling with thofe who are inthe like manner exercifed. Paul makes this end ofGods comforts in his tribulations, that theymight comfort others in the like cafe. He that is nottempted aboutthe pardon offin, wonders at thole who are fo ailhi/led, and therefore is altogether unskilful to apply fit remedies. We fee carnal and natural people judge fuch mad and ditfräefed, they bid them go to merry company, feafi and recreate themfelves, thinkingrhis carnal plainer will heal their fpiritual fore. fob 33.23. Elihu defcribing the "condition of a man chaffen- 3.
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