505 Ofhardneffeofheart. tión theymaytake comfort thereby,affuring themfelues that they (hall againe bee reflored vnto their former elate, for Rom.ti.19. the girt and calling ofGod are without repentance, and thofe 1olin t; t. whom he bath once Awed, he loiaeth vnto the end. An example hereofwehaue in Dauid, who being troubledandfull ofan_ guifh in his fpirit, his foule refuting all comfort,andbeing fo a(loni(hed that hecould not fpeake, yet hee confidered the Pfal.77..;.4. daiesofold, and the yeers of ancient time, hee called to re- membrancehis former fongs in the night,occafioned by the greatbenefits which the Lordhadbellowed vpon him, and toknowing that the Lord was vnchangeable in his mercy and goodneffe, he releeued his poore foule, whichwas ready to faint under theheauie waight of prefent of li6lions. And thus alto lob being brought through the violence of thofe heauie croffes which the Lord laied vpon him, euen to the brinke ofdefperation, fo that he (pared not to vtter in the bitterneffeofhis foula, fearefull curfes and moll impatient ípeeches commingneere vntoblafphemie, oftentimes com- forteth himfelfe by calling to minde his former integritie and righteoutheffe : whole example if the poore humbled foules will follow, theymay raife themfelues with true com- fort,when theyare funcke downe vnder theirheauieburthen ofprefent corruptions. ,....... CHAP. X LI. How the :wake Chriftian maybee affared that his repentance is trueandvnfained. §.Seít?.I ' Nd fo much for anfwering Satans tentations, el thefgnesef' .t> ?:drawne from hardneffeofheart, wherebyhe la- true repen- 1: bot'reth to perfwade poore humbled (inners tance,and fi> , e `' that theyare vtterly deflituteofrepentance : but of __ - .. ifhee fade ofhis purpofe, then hee will inde- degrees tberof.. uour to make them beleeue, that though they haue fome (hewofrepentance, yet it is not fuchas God requireth : for either heewill affirmethat it is hypocritical) and diffembled, rather for feare of puni(hment thezt for hatred of finne or true
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