z 6o Sermon 3. to the firring of corruption : Therefore, in fuck a cafe as this, men are mucr difpofed to fret ; as ye may fee in Saul, and others, who were ready, when God anfwer- ed them not, to take another and finful way of their own. But, when God exercifes in fovereignry, as the Confcience bath readily more quietnefs, to Lbere is more Tweet fubmiffion and patience. 4thly, Perlons would take a reflex look on the frame of their own hearts before their darknefs came on them ; if they were carelefs and carnal, fecure, untender and remifs in furring up themfelves to obtain light from God : If darknefs, or any other aflli &ion come on them in fuch a cafe it fpeaks this, That they were fadly furprized in that dif}emper ; but, if it come on them at fuch a time, when they have a teftimony within them, that they were making Confci- ence of their duty, it would feem to fay, That God is not looking fo much at their fin, as to force fovereign end he would bring about by that rod : If ye confider holy fob, who is the eminent pattern of God's exercifing a rnan fovereignry, the cafe and frame he was overtaken in by his affli &ion, was a moil tender one, riling in the morning and offering facrifices for his children; and, as he fays, Chap 3. 26. I was not ii/ fafety, neither bad I refi, Neither was I quiet, yet trouble came : That is, If I had been fecure and carnal, I would have thought the lefs to meet with fuch troubles ; but I was not at carnal eafe, but was ferioufly at my duty. It was this that made him that he could not fee what it was that God pointed out to him for his exercife. We would now, in the next place, give you there qua- di fìcatwons ; all, That when God exercifeth from fove- reignty, yet, even then, there may be fomewhat of ter- ror, reproof and challenge, and fomewhat cf corrup- tion furring ; and the reafon is, becaufe we have cor- ruption in us, and are not without the guilt of fin, and therefore temptations have jufl ground to challenge, and corruption is ready on every occafion to he flirred and provoked. VVe would give this as a frond qu lification, That oft -times God's dealing with, and exercifing of his people, is mixed with force refpe &, both to their fin, and to the good end, that he intends to bring about there
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