63 $ Comforts argainft ourflog progref infanífification. Thou labourefl much (will he fay) and toylefl thy felfe with ihtollerablepaines that thou maiefi become a fanólified man, but all in vaine ; for though thouhearefl the word often, and readefl much, and praycfl continually, and beatefl thy brames with daylie care, to the end that thou mayeft at.. mineuntoborne perfeC`li6 in Chriflianitie;yet,doefl thou not fee how little thou profitefl by all thy laboures, feeing thy knowledge is flill finali, thy faith weake, thy charitie cold, thyheart dull and hard, thy good workes few and imper- fe61, andall thy zealous refolutionseafiliehindred,and quite ouerthrowne witheuery finali temptation ? Why then doeft . thou flriue againfl the flreame, and undertake ataske which is to thee, not onely hard, but euen impoffible ? For do what thoucanfl, yet all will be to littlepurpofe, feeing this worke is full ofgreatdifficulties, thy felfe difabled with manifold corruptions, and thy enemies which oppofeagainfl thee ex- ceeding ilrong and mightie, as thy felfe findefl by lamen. table experience, and thymuch labouring and little profi- ting, doeclearly proouc. Ceafe therefore thy bootlefhe tra- uaile, and rather imbrace thy pleafing delights, then tur- moyle thy felfe with vaine labour. §.Sec7.2. For the anfwering ofwhich temptationwe are toknow, That thedir thatifwe diflikeour owne dulneffe and backwardnes inpro- iikeofou dui- fiting and growing forward in fan6lification; ifwebe truely nawnrdnee forrowfull and bewaile our great wants and imperfeaions, is accepted and labour earneflly in the vfe of the meanes whereby wee ofGod. mayattaine vnto knowledge, faith, and all other fanShify- inggraces, and alto be enabled to bring forth the fruites of holy obedience; then are we acceptedofGod, and fhall in the endmoll certainely obtaine our defire, though yet wee can feebut finali profit ofall our laboures; neither (hall all thepower ofourfpirituall enemiesfo farre preuaile againfi vs, as vtterly to hinder vs in this worke, but that wee Thal vn- doubtedly goe forward,although not fo fpeedilieas weede. fire. For this holy defire ofprofiting in godlinefle, this in deuour and carefull vfe ofthofemeanes which are ordained byGodfor this purpofe, are not naturall, but the worke of Gods fpirit begun in vs; and we-are with the Apoflle to beé perfvadcd
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