492 Ofhardtlefe o fheart. feruice,which indeede (as they performe it) ismeerelie for. mall,cuftoinable rather then confcionable,in Thew and ex. ternall,but not in fpirit and truth ; but when the Lordby the miniftery ofhis word, made effeauall by the inward opera- tion ofhis holy fpirit, dothpull off the thicke skinneofcar. Hall fecuritie frein offtheir hearts, and caufeth the fcales of ignorance ':to fall from their eies, then and not before doe theyplainlie difcerne and fenfiblie feele that huge maffe of inbred corruption, their dulneffe and drowfineffe in Gods feruice, their hardneffe ofheart and impenitencie,and now theyare much vexed and grieued with them, which in for.. mer times neuer troubled them. And therefore let not fuch be difinaied nor debar their foules ofthat confolation which ofright belongeth to them ; for flefh andblond hathnot re- uealed this their corruption, hardneffe of heart, dulnes and deadneffe in Gods feruice,but thegoodfpirit ofGod, which bath begun alreadie toworke in them, (hewing them their corruptions, and mooning them to an vnfained dillike of them, and therefore theymay affure themfelues, that hewho bath begun this goodworke in them, will alto bring it in his good time toperfeaion; Onelie (as thePfalmif+exhor-. Phil t .6. teth,) Let them tarriethe Lords leafure, Waite vponand trufit ias hsm,andhefhallcomfort their hearts. §.Sell.2. Now this fenfible or difcernedhardneffeofheart is alfoof Tvvoîo,tsof two forts : the firf+ is of them who carefullie vfe all good fenAlehard- meanes and indeuour with all diligence to better their nefieofhear!. efiate which they fee to bee molt miferable,and to mollifie T'befvftioy"d their hard hearts, and to attaine vnto hartie and vnfained ofthebe vfe repentance. Which who fo Both, hee may affure himfelfe oftherneanes p vvbeicbyit that hee is the child of God and in his loue and fauour; may befoJtned. for earnefilie to de fire repentance and carefullie to vfe the meanes whereby wee may attaine thereunto, to be difpleafed with our hardneffe of heart, and to labour that it may bee mollified, to bee forrie that wee can bee no more forrie, and to bee difpleafedwith our felues,becaufe wee can no more bee difpleafed with our finnes, is verie acceptable in the fight of God, though wee fee but a little progreffe in godlineffe, and but a (mall increafe of
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