I Queiions, and CafesofConfcience chap. 14 a crownof glory, when he can findnothing but chains of darknefs, and a gnaw- ing worme. quell. But what Glide of diligence is required to get affurance ? I Anfiv. Firfl, be diligent in felf reflexion : Aclean heart chews the cud, and ruminates upon its own actlions : Try thy graces by a Scripture Sun-beame Compel thy thoughts to come in that they may drink fweetneiè out of their own tountaine , and that they may be fatisfied as with marrow and fatneflè. Affurance confifls in .a reflex aól, andby fuch workings . it is main- tained. lI Secondly, be diligent inprayer : Affurance comes not with weak willies, and vellieties that are fo frequent in the monthsof many : O, chat I were fare of heavM endhappin: ff , C7 c. But chis great bleffng deferves a fervent prayer: The white !lone is given to none but conquerours : As aflùrance doth migh- tily enliven prayer , fo prayer cherithes and maintaines affurance. Go thento God : Be importunate with him : beg a fmile, a beame ofhis face : Defire him to take all thy worldly things again, unleffehe will fweeten them with his love. Tell him thou cana live no longer on husks, and therfore delire him togive thee } fomething that its fit fora foul to live on. IH. Thirdly,be diligent and fervent in communionwith thy God : fweet and fa- miliar entercourfe with God, puts thee into the number of his friends , and friendthip brings aflurance : furely he would not kifs thee with the kilfes of his mouth ifhe didnot love thee : He would nottell thee fomuch ofhis mind if his heart were not wich thee : He would not accept of thy prayers , thy fpiritual facrifices , if he meant to defiroy thee : Communionwith God is that which gives an heavenly , and eternal Plerophory. Quell. os by Both affurance deferve our heft diligence ? I efinf,v. Firfl, hereby the foul is provided for eternity : Thou mayefl then fay,Yhy 101 15 fallen unto thee in agoodgrotend, thonhaft a pleafant heritage. Thou cana defire no more then to be aflùred that thou (halt be for ever happy,: What would the damned in Hell give for a . polliibility of happiness ? What would fome wounded fpirits give but for hopes and probabilities of it ? II . Secondly, it will fweeten all prefenc conditions to us : We may cat our bread with joy, and drink our wine with a merry heart when we know God ac- cepts our perfon, and finells a fweet odour in our facrifice. We mays,lay claim to all the pearles in the Gofpel, and to all its priviledges : If Godbellow rem- porals upon us,we may know that he firfl dips them in love: yea , thou hall a happy proreelion in all thy ways: For, s. Thou art fecure againll the frowns of the world , for heaven ftniles upon thee. Thoumayell laugh at the flanders and reproachesofmen : For whenthe world brands thee, the Spirit feals thee, &c. z. Thou art fecure in times ofjudgement. For judgements are intended for the fweeping awayofSpiderswebs,not for the fweepingaway of Godsown jewels: Or if thou beefi involved in the common calamity, yet how is this pill rowled up in fweetnefle to thee, when others can tall nothing but gall , and wormwood. Thy body may be tolled in the world , but thy foul lies fafe at Anchor. 3. Thou artfecure in the houre ofdeath : Thou knowe(l that providence onely means to break the (hell that it may have the kernel. Let fuch tremble at the approaches ofdeath that knownot what (hall become of their precious fouls, but thou mayefl fafely trample uponthe Adder, &c. This made the Mar- tyrs embrace the flames, &c. Affuranceof the love of God in Chrifl and nothing elfe pulls out the (ling of death : Indeed death bath loft its fling in refpe& of all that are in Chrill ; but yet fuch as know not that they are in
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