Downame - Houston-Packer Collection BX5133 .D76 C551 1608 v.1

5 3 ® Ourwant of feelingarguethmnot want of faith. The fire is fotnetitne focouered with afhes,that itfendeth forthneither light nor beate, and therefore inoutward fenfe and appearance, it feemeth quite extinguifhed, but when the afhes are remooued and more wood added to it,itbur- f}eth out into agreat flame,aud makes all theHanders by to perceiue hisheate and light ; and fo thegraces ofGods fpirit are fotnetimes focouered with the afhes ofour corruptions, that there appeareth no fparkeofthem, nor yet anyheate of true comfort ; but when our corruptionsare remooued with vnfained repentance,and anew fupplyofgrace minif'red vn- to themby Gods fpirit, thendoth theirlight appeare vnto vs and warme our hearts with truecomfort, andnot to.vsalone buteuen thole about vs feeour fhininglight,and.glorific our heauenly father. Amanhath not alwaies the vfe ofhis fenfes, reafbn, and vnderflanding, as in his flecpe; butbecaufe wecannot fenfi_ blie difcerne there faculties, (hall we therefore conclude that this man rho is afleepe is fenfeleffc,vnreafonable, andwith- out vnderf}anding? itwere mofhabfurd -c: for if wee butex- pe6l a while till hee bee throughlie awakned, our argument will appeare manifefilie falfe: and fo fometime the poore Chriflian is ouertaken with the- fleepe ofdrawfic fecuritie, and is ouerwhelmed for a time with hardneffe ofheart and dulneffe of fpirit, fo as none ofthofe fpirituall'graces -which are inhim can fenfiblie be difcerned by' himfelfe or others; but (hall he orwe conclude or beleeue Satan fo concluding; that hee neuer had them; or now is depriuedofthem ?-why it were asabfurd as. theother. For when hce is awaked out ofhis drowfie lieepe by thevoice of the Jbrd founding in his eares, and by the good motions of his Rohe fpirit,his faith, loue, zeale, and all other vertues and graces Phew theinfelue.s in -their fnitsand aStiens, as manifeflly .as :in for- mer times. 4.Seli:3, Seeing then thofe atguments'w'hich are taken from fenfe That vve mu#.andfeeling fo oftenfaile, let vs not be perfwaded bySatans not con(lude tentati ons,tobeleeue that weare deflituteoffaith,and other that vve hare 'fannhf ing graces ofGodsholy fpirit,becaufe at fometitnes notfaith,Ge catrfe vvcdoe 1c.çu :ot fen(bly difcerne themfor thoughnow our fouler (ée.rne. 01011b.-- .."

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