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

rentgrionsarrfing fromblalhemoitsfu efiions,dnfia ered.659 Saïnts,thatbe not furceafe thefe blafphemous tentati- ons folong as God permirteth him, that hemay at lcafl'tur- moile and vexe thofe, wheinbeehathno hope to ouercome. And finding that thefe weake Chriflians bad rather fuffer any totmentt,yea(ifit were poflìble) a thoufand deaths, then they would haue their hearts a treafurie for fuch fatanicall blatphemies,thereforehauing no hope to bring them into the paines'ofhell'fire, hee beginneth a hell in their confci- eves.inthislife,a-ndtormenteth their foules vithfuch ex- quiftemalitioufncffe, that the mofl v ittie and fpitefull tor- rnentors.couldneuerdeuifefuch hellifh punifhments. Now thatwee may bee armed againfl thefe impious fug- §,St.6. geflrons, Iwill fire propound forne confolations which may cortotatians to upholdvs in this terrible conflié : and then I will adioyne f rengtben vs forne means "wherebywe may be preferued from the dan- a aí4 vvic- ger òfthefe tentations. Concerning the former, wee are to W4"1. know and confider, that theyare not our owne thoughtsbut Satans fuggeflions,and therefore theyThal not be laid to our charge as beingour finnes,but fhallbe fet vponSatans fcore, vetowhomofright they doe appertaine, together with the puniíhment due vntothem.' Yea, but how íhall wee know that they are Satans ítt geflions and not our owne thoughts? Tbat the('e Ianfwer, itwill manif'íllyappeare by thefe infallible Eignes I.That the(e bldfpbemous firfl; in that thefe blafphemous thoughts are in themfelues fugef ions are fo outragi.o'uflie wicked,that euennature though much cor- nor our ovvne rupted is not capableofthem,vnleffe bylong cuflomeofma- !nner, licious finning againfl God it isbecome plainely diabolical. For through Godsmercie there are Tome little fparkes of the light ofnature,andTome finall and diuine refemblances re- newed in eueryman, whichmake him tohauea reuerend e- flimationofGods Maieftie, and to abhorre thole outragious blafphetnies : fo that though hee remaine deftitute of any dram ofgrace, or fparke oftrue pietie,and continueacarnali worldling,fecurely liuing in finne; yet he bath-no likingor approbationofthefediuellifh thoughts, but rather is afloni- fhed with horror and feare when as they are fuggefled in his minde. And thereforehow much leffe are theft capable Of them,who haue receiued forne meafure ofgrace, and in IT- y- z - rightneffe

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=