Ofthemeanes whereby otsrfáith maybefiregrhemel. 545* Yeawith the affli&led foule fay, But how fhould I auoid §Seíl.9. t, feeiugI am forciblie prefled into it with the intollerable Tbat vve waight ofmy finnes, and with the fenfe and apprehenfion h Pe agaik%i ofGods fearefull wrath and dif leafure feeling no comfort: e,ardGe- 1 leerae agairl, nor affurance that euer I (hail receiue pardon?Towhich I an- beletfe. (were, that yet inno cafe they are todefpaire, but to hope a- gainfl hope, and tobeleeue again(' beleeue, and as it were from thebottomofhell,to call vp the eieof faith intohea- uen,laying hold ofGods merciesand Chriflsmerits ; know- ing that faith is ofthings notfcene, neither with the bodilie eie,nor with the eie ofreafon, and that theLord feetneth of- ten tohate thofe,whom in truth he dearely loueth. For fo Jong as we beleeueGods protnifes,andhaue forcehope that our finnesareeither pardoned, or at leafl pardonable, there is certaine comfort; but when as all hope is call off, and that we reieSS all Gods promifes throughvnbeleefe, and fall into utter defperation, there nothing remaineth, but moll cer- taine deflru6lion : when finne lieth vponvs, it noqueflion exceedinglievexethvswith the torments ofconfcience, but ifwedefpaire,we prefently in (lead ofobtaining eafe call our (clues into the torments ofhell;the pangs ofconfcienceeau- red by thefenfc of the beanie burthen of finne, are a good means to bringvs to Chrifl,that we maybe cafedofthis bur- then; but defpaire flaiethvs in the midway, and vtterlie de- barrethvs from euerbeing partakersofChrifl, or anyof his benefits. And therefore though the burthen offinnebee ne- tier fo irkfome andgricuous, yet letvs becontented to beare it till we comevnto Chrifl for cafe: letvs beware in any cafe that we doenot faint through impatiencie andwant ofhope and fo fall intodefperation,for fo (hall wee but increafe the -- waightofour finnes inexceeding meafure,whichalready we thinkean intollerable burthen, andconfequentlyour horror ofconfcience;fo fhall we bringour felues from adoubtful,or rather hopeful flate,tomollcertaineandprefent deflru&ion; fo (hall wee change our temporarie griefe for that which is euerlafling, and the terrors ofconfcience for the torments ofhell; fo (hall that which weemoil feare and flee,prefenclic ouertake and ouerwheitnevs: forwhilefl in an horribleman- Nn -3 ncr
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=