g.sec7.7. 2. That this tentatión of bla;phemies is :common to af- fidied Chrift;- MY*. s.C3r,zo. z 3. 660 T'ersx"lion' 4rifsngfro htlafphemousfuggellionfonfwered. rightpef1e:of heart defre to feare loue and ferue the Lord? Secondlie, they may bee difcerned tobe Satans . fL,ggeflions, by the inThner oftheir iniedion ; which is not voluntarie,vpon deliberation and choice, or feldome, as a mans owne thoughtsvfuallieare,but fuddaine likea flafh of lightning,with fuch vnauoidable violence, that they cannot byanywit or flrengthofthe partie bee preuented, and that contiuually,ene following in the necke of' another. Lafllïe,, 'whereas a mansowne thoughts beingnaturall,worke no ex traordinarie perturbationofmind; contrariwife thefe blaf.. phemous fuggef}ions flrike a mans heart with filchhorror and feare, that therewith the vnderflanding is aflonifhed, the heart quaketh,the mind is diflraól ed, the ioints tremble, and the haireofthehead flandethan end ; whereby it plain- lieappeareth,that feeing thefe fuggeflions are focontrary to nature,and worke therein fuch grievous and bitter effeas, theyare meerely fupernaturall and diuellifh and do .not a- rife from ourownecorrupt lufts,with which they haue fo lit- tle familiaritie and agreement. Secondly, let fuch as are vexed with therefuggeflions know to their comfort,that howfoeuer Satan tomake their eflate more defperate,perfwadeth them that neuer any that belong vnto God haue fuch blaf?hemies call into their minds : yet the truth is that there is no kind oftemptations more commonly incident to Gods dear.° feruants affli&ed in minde, and exercifed in thefe fpirituall conflicts, then this tentationofblafphemous thoughts. Yea,fo ordinarilydoth Satan fight with this weapon,that he durfi affault therewith ourSauiour :lefus,Chrifl, howfoeuer hee was the vnfpotted lambe ofGod,inwhom therewas no man-ex ofGnne, nonot fo much as the leaf} degree of carnali concupifcence; for what more horribleblafphemie coúld be imagined, then to renounce God, andhis pure woríhip and feruice,and like Sa- tans deuoted vaffall, to fall downeandworfhip him ? And therefore Peeingno tentation hath taken hold ofvs which appertaineth not to others, and feeing many ofGods fer- uants who haue been thus tempted,are now byhis gracede- livered from this tormenting furie, and in rt oftheircon- fcicnce
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