rentatioist arifrrgfrom6laJphemdus farggegisns,anfix'ered.663 fuffereth Satan to fcourgethéwith this three- fringedwhip, that theymaybe mooued hereby to fleevnto him by ferious repentance ; and to difcharge againft them thefe canons of molt fearefull tentations, that hee may awake them out of their deepe fleepe offinne,andmooue them through this ex- tremitie of danger, tobuckell vnto them the fpirituall ar- mour,whereby theymaybe enabled to make refiflance,not onely againil: thefe blafphemous fuggeflions, but likewife all other fatanicall tentations, which either draw or allure them toany (trine. More particularlie,when they haue not made that confcience which theyoought, of their finnefull and wicked thoughts,either not regarding themwhen they are conceiued,or not repenting ofthem afterwards:theLord dothoftentimes correa this negligence in his children, and by thefe heauiecroffes moucth them,notonely to let awatch z- before their lippes, thatthey offend not with their tongue, Pr P alm39 011.4.23. and carefully obferue theirae}ions, that theydoe not fcan- dalouflie tranfgrefí'e his commandements,but alto that they keepe their hearts withaldiligence left they offend the Lord in their fecret thoughts. Butit may the affli&edChriítian will further complains, §,Sec/.IT_ that he fomuch reuolueth thefe blafphemous tentations in That though hismind,and Lath beenfo negligent and flow in reieCling our corrupt nted ofthem,that hegreatly doubteth left he hathyeelded untob thcfe themfome likingand approbation, andleft his finneful flefh blaffhernies, be fornewhattainted with them, as being the diuels infiru-yet there is no ment,either inadmitting or entertaining them.To this I an- a re f de- fwere,that as there is nothingmore vfuall,then for a fecure f1 confcience ro excufe, when it is guiltie : fonothing is more common,then for an affiietedconfcience to acculewhen it is innocent,and to lay an heauie burthen vpon it felfe where the Lord giueth a plaine difcharge. Butt we may imagine the wora,letall thefe accufationsbee admitted as true and iuft,yet there is 'no caufe why they fhould'be thus defperate- lie difcouraged : firít,becaufe their finne being committed through infirmitie is pardonable, and therefore if theyvfe the tneanes of true repentance, as namely, tobewaile their corruption, tohateand abhorre it, to firiue and endeuour to -:v mortifie
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