. 24Z eflLetter confolatorre Ifitbefaidwe doeyeéfrune;ouranfwereis,that that happeneth vntovs notfromthenew creature,butfromthatother part yetremaining in vs arilfubduedunder fin, in whichthe Lord ofmerciedoth not efteemevs, but inthatnewman which is fafhionedagaineaccor- Rom.7.t7. ding vntohisowne image.In fomuch asS.Pauldoubteth not to fay,that thefnnes ofthe Rom.6.s. faithfull proceeding from theremainder ofcorruption, yet abiding in them, are nottheir Death the works,but the worksoftheflefh,which being already wounded vino death by thepower complement of ofthe death of Chrift,languifhethsnore and more,and fhallfinally beabolifhedby death, awvoJ; atton. which is theend and accomplifhment of our mortification,and fully endeth thebattaile Loathingof betweene the Refis andthe 1ptrit. WhatfhallI fay oftheloathing ofthis life ,and thevani_ Ibis life%c tietherof,and ofthat defire which is in the childrenof God, tobe diffolued andtobewith Plula.sr Chrift? of contentmentin all eftates,patienceinaf li6hions,conflanciein the tructh,loue towards thofethatloue the Lord,pitie towards tholethat arc in miferie, and the defiling ofthe goodcuen of their enemies and thofe that hate them ? Which values though they beare notanequall faile,by reafonoftheweakensofthe fiefh andof themaliceand reg.: .ftance oftheenemie 5 yet aretheyvndoubted teftimonies ofourloue towards God,whicb is not but in tholewho arefirftbelovedofhim,andhauetailed howgood and gracioushe Comfortfom is .Ifwe!hall lookevnto the exercifes ofpietie and ofthe worfhipofGod, thoughwemay the exercefes here(as elfewhere)complaineofourwants anddefeEìs,yet we(hall throughGodsgood- bearing nesfindematter ofcomfort.Remember therefore what merciethe Lordbath fhewed you Thehear.ng of rhemard. mthispart; with whatdefìreandaffe6tionyouhaueheard the word ofGod :howprecious ithathbeen vntoyou,aboue gold,euenthe moft finegold : howfweeteandcomfortable, euenaboue the hony and thebonycombe. Rememberwith what fruiteof knowledgein thewill ofGod,increafe of faith inhis promifes, purpofe and endeuour of amendment of Prayer. life,you haue oftentimes heard the fame. Call to mmdewith what zealeand earneftneflç offprrityou liane fometimes called uponthe nameof God both publikely andprivately, Preffrngof with others and alone by your felfe : with what ioyand reioycing ofthe fouleyou haue God. praifed the Lorde for his mercies towards his Church, and towards your felfe. Canto sac wits. mmde what hath beene in you at any time, the power of thofe Sacraments, which areannexed as feales veto the promife of faluation byChrift, and howfarretheyhaw by theblelfingof Godcrated yourminde inhopeand affurance of hisgoodnes towards you. If your prefent difcouragement refill the comfort of thofe meditations, it is no new thing,that inour weaknesweMould after the mannerofchorethatbe ficke,difaduantage our flues ofthat whichmight doe vs mollgood : yet remember how incuriousa thing ie were,to efteeme the children of God by their prefentagonies and confliâof confcience, ratherthan by thecomfortof that eftate wherein the graceofGod lhined plentifullyvpó Simile, them and inthem. For as when men are difrafed,it cannot thereofbeconcluded,thacchey wereneuer inhealth : fotheprefent difcomforts of the childrenofGod,though they take away the fenfeof his mercie for a time, yet they are no repéale of his former goodneffe 7.orecordonr andfauourtowards them, nordeniethemto haue beene,euen intheirowne iudgement faith and corn- and feeling dearevnto the Lord : and !till tobe,though the forme and tempeftof their forespo.3 prefent aâfibtion fuller them not fo finely and comfortablyto enjoythe fame,as before. Iobsy:7. For which caufethey muft with fobandDawidcall to remembrance the comfortsoftimes P151.77,6m psi}, from thence to allure themfelues of the returneof the good hand of the Lorde in Pfal3,a11. due time. I doubt not butyou can bewitnelfevatic. God and toyourowne felfc,that the time hath been when yourcomfort and affuranceofGods fauour wasfuch,as Satanhim- Rom.t.16. felfecouldnot denie theteftimonie whichthen the fpiritofGod didbeare vnto your fpi- Romatsy. rit. Now thegifts and callingofGod arewithout repentance, andwhom heeloueth hee Ioh.r;.r. loueth veto the end : neither doth our faluation depend vpon any thingofour owne, The toJiimonie (for thenwe lhoulda thoufand times perifhand fall beforetheenemy)butvpon thateter. ofthé¡pent of nailand eúerlaftingloue ofGod, wherewith hee bath lowed vsin IefusChrrft before the adoption, bet- foundationsofchie world werelaid : which loueofhis, if it hathatany rimebeene made t o ba o¡men knowne veto vs and apprehendedofvs,wee haue affurance greater than theteflimonie yidAngeá, ofmen and Angels. But youwill lay, that whichfomecimesI felt is now gone,and d
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