Fenner - Houston-Packer Collection BX5037 .F46 1651

A Tt'eatife o f the Aeaions: Pfal.r 19 8o: The affection of fhame a man would be loth to be put to and he knew he fhould be put to it one time or other, if he were not found at the bottom : And there- fore he'labours with God, that his heart might be found in his ftatutes, lie was not content to have good affections that way, but he labours to háve found and folid affections that might be found at the bottom. That I be not afhamed, (ayes he,What a fhame will it be to fee thee a damned Goat at Chrif}s left hand, that now art elleemed a good Chrifli- an ? If thou beef} not right at the bottom, fo it will be. Give me leave to tell you one thing that occurred in an experience of mine own. I was once a Paying to a Gentleman who was ex- ceedingly affeered at the Word, and profeffed great love to my Miniftry, and that he would defend it, and make much of the Word : O (faid I) there be many that yet feem very forward to approve of the Word, add to defend it, &c. that when the Word comes to meet with their bo- Tome fins, and gives them no ref} in their confciences, I fear me will fet againft Minifter, and Word, and all ere it be long. Ono, God forbid (fayes he) I were unworthy to live, if I fhould do fo : Well, well ( laid I) I pray God it may not be fo as 1 fay : but mark it, and peradventure you (hall fee it with your eyes. Within one fortnight, this Gentleman that feemed to be fuch a friend at my firf} co- ming to the Parifh, being met with in a Sermon, and feel- ing his fin (a fin I little imagined he was guilty of) to be reproved and condemned in the Pulpit, he never would be known to me more, but oppofed me as long as I flayed there : he was affected, but his affections were not found at the bottom, and therefore he came to this fhame ; God grant it have humbled him by this time, if now he be alive. It is a good rule in morality, Af feïiteo mendaciter fe fubjici- Regula sont ration : The affeétions will fain a fubmiflion to right moratie. reafon. It is true in Divinity, the affections will Teem to fubmit unto grace, when they do not. For as long as the bottom is not found, they cannot be fet truly upon God they

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