Satans tantations concerning vnrepentancie. 00110.1.MMO0114.momel 485 -CHAP. XXXVIII. Satans tentations obiearng to the rveake Chrifirian vnrepen- tancre,and hardnef]"e o fheart, anfìoered. Nd fo much for answering that generali temptationofSatan,whereby he labou- reth to rob and depriue the poore hum- bled firmer'ofall the hope and comfort whichhe might reapc in applying vnto himfelfe the gratious promifes and fweet comforts contained in the Gofpell, by perfwadingtiim that he is not effeauallycalled. Wherewith ifhe cannot rétaile,he defcendeth from the generali to the particulars,and hauing as it were a far off difcharged his (hot ofdangerous temptations,withoutinfli&ingdesiredhurt and deflru6 ion, heapprocheth neerer, and fighteth againf.l the poore Christian with handyblowes, ÿ thereby hemay beate himdowne into deepe defperation. Let it be granted,will he fay,that thou art called,yetit followethnot hereofthat thou are ele6ted and (halt be faued; for Chrifl lefus himfelfe hath faid,that many arecalled,but few arechofen,and why maieft not thoube in the greaternumber?neither is the calling thou fpeakeít offufficient tomakea Chriflian,vnleffe it be accom- panied with vnfained repentance anda liuely faith. And the promifes oftheGofpell,wherein thou vainely hopes},are not made vnto all thofe who are called, but vnto thofe who are induedwith a true iuflifying faith, which is alwaies ioyned with the fruite thereof,vnfained repentance. But ifthou ex- amine thy Idle aright, thou shalt find that both thefe are wanting in thee : for to begin first with repentance which is moil fenfible,and tobe difcernedwith greatefl eafe,ifthou fearch thine hart without any affeelionate partiality or vaine conceit, thou (halt find that thou art altogether deflitute thereof. For is not thy heart fo óbflinately hard, and fo flub- bernelie rebellious, that thou cant} not bewaile thy fumes withanyvnfained forrow, nor' feat-cc with much Braining Ii 3 force §.Seas. How Satan perfiadeth t1 e weakeChrilli- an that he hatea no repentance.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=