Satans tentationsrimming 311 to delay repentance.. 3 i CHAP. XXVII. Satans tentations whereby heperfrradeth men to delay their repentance,anfixered. Nd fo much concerning the fubtill tentations of Pella. Satan,whereby he laboureth to make the word Tbeteatatdon ofGod fruitleffe and vneffe&call for our con- aUuring to ueruon, wherewith ifhee cannotpreuaile being tañete "Pen - repelledby themeanes before fpokenof,and ifinen by their hearing of the word haue learned thus much knowledge, that their cöuuerfionand turning to God isneceffarie to fal- uation; then he will in the next place lab-óur to perfwade their tòdeferre then repentance fora time, till they haue better opportunitieand aremore fit for this purpose. Let it be granted(will he fay) that it is tieceflarie that thou fhoul- deft repent and turne vnto God ; yet thou mayendeferre thy repentance vntill thine old age, or at leaf} till the time of fickneffe, for then thou wilt bee more fit to performe this dutie, theft in the flourishingprime of thy youth, when as the exercises ofreligionare fo tedious and vnpleafant, and thepleafures ofthe world fo fweet and delightrull ; neither needefi thou to feare any inconuenience which will come hereby,for God is fo gratious that whenfoeuer thou retur- nefl vetohim he will receiue thee tomercie,for hehath pro- mifed in his word, that whcnfoeuer a firmer repenteth "him ofhis finnes,he will blot all his wickednes out ofhisremem- brance: And therefore thoumayesl inióy'Both thepleafures ofthis life, and the life to come, thou "maÿëff repent-time enough hereafter and liue aflriet and religious life,when the beateofyouth is pall and old age drawës on, which is farre more fit for .thefe exercifes : for what follie is it ió to dote vpon the heauenly ioyes to come, as' that thóïi fhouldefl de- priue thy felfe of thofe worldly pleafures:rwhich are-piefent, feeing thoumain inioyboth i' Againfl which tentá on it' beheétteth euerie man "Mofi rbit tentati carefullie to arme?hitrifelfe as beiiíg in irfelfe náoil dange- onrxof dam. IOUS`
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