O fhardneffe ofheart. 493 elfrepentancewhich we delire ingreat meafizre,for the Lórd ei}eemeth thewill for the deed,and theaffe&ion for the ahi- on,and wemayafhure our felues that ifon our part we be not wanting in thevfe ofthemeanes, the Lord will not be wan- tingon his part to fupply our wants, and to fatisfie all our godlydefies. Ofthis hardneffe ofheart,whichverleoften befalleth the dearefl of Gods children, wee haue many examples. The Examples of Prophet Dauia thuscomplaineth,Pfal.77.2. In thedayefmy this harelnefre trouble 1 ou ht the Lord, my ore ranneand cea ed not in the o; heart. .i y f . 1 taim.77.s. night, myfoule refufd comfort. 3. Idid thinke upon God and was troubled, lprayed,andmy Fpirít zras full ofangui h. 4. Thom keepefl mineeies 2raking; Iwasofoniedand couldnotfpeake. So theChurch complaineth thus,Cant.3.i.. Inmy bed Ifought Cant.3.1. himby night r-hornmy ¡oule /cued. Ifought him,but I foundhim and S.6. not. And chap.e. verf.6. I opened to my welbeloued, but my me'belaued waegone andpa¡l : mineheart wasgonewhen beedid f ekrk ; lfoughthim ,but Icouldnotfndebim; I calledhim,but he anfweredmeenot. Whereby it is manifefl,that euen the deare Saints ofGod arc often tines deffitute of all comfort and voide ofall feeling of Gods fauour, and of the powerfull workingofthe gracesofGods fpirit which they hauerecei- ued, though they vfe the meanes appointed ofGod for the furringvp and increaíngofgrace in them; which commeth topaffe, byreafon oftheirhardneflè ofheart, and drowfie dulneffe offpirit in thefe fpirituall exerciíes.. And hence it is that manyofGods children do grieuoufly aflli6 their follies, becaufe they fee thefe their corruptions and imperfections, and hereby oftentimes are mooued to thinke that theyare deí}ituteoffairh,andofaI failing graces of Gods fanglifying fpirit, becaufe though they vfe the meanes ordained ofGod for the begetting and increa- fingofgrace in them, yet they cannot perceiue any fruite that commeth thereby, nor feele in their foules,.any true . comfort !or ioy in thefe fpirituall exercifes. For example form complaine that though they continually heare the word, yet they feeleno increafeofany grace,no more know- ledge,nomore faith,no morezeale-ofGods glory, no more mortification
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