EPIST. IY. r-7'> A enlarge ir fdfc. Never fin, repcmed of; was puni!hcd: and never any thas mourned, and repented nor. Loe you have done that, which you grieve ymi have not done. That good God, whofc att is his will,accounts ofour wtll,asoilr dced.lfhc required forrowpropoq,ionable to the hainoufndfe of our finnes, there \Ycre n? end ofmourning.Now his mercy regards not fo much rhemeafure,as rhe rruch of Jt;a_nd accounts us to have that which we complaincto wanr. I never knc1v any truly pcmrenr, which in thedepth of his tcmor!e, was afraid of farrowing too much; nor any unrcpemam, which wi!ht to forrow more.Yea,let me tell you, that this fortow is bccrcr and more 'thon thatdeepe heavinelfe for fin, which you ddire, Many have been vexed with an extreme remorfe for fome lin,from the gripes ofa g"Jled confcience,which yer never come whererrue repentance grew1in whom the confciencc plaiesat once the ac-cufer, B wirnelfe, Judge, tormentor: but an earnefr griefc, for the w~nr of griefe, was never found in any but a gracious hearr. You arc happy, and complaine. Tell me,Ibcfeech you;This farrow which you mourne to want,is it agrace ofthoSpirit ofGod\or not~ If nor, why doe you farrow to want it ~ !fit be, oh how happy is it to grieYe for want ofgrace ! The God ofall uutb and blelfednetle bath faid; B ltj[ed are th-fl that h•nger amlthirflafter rightm{nt{ft; and with the fam> breath, BleJ!td are th<J that "''"'"',for thtJ Jh•D ht <~mfmed. You fay,you momne; Chrifr [Jith,youaro blelfed: youf•y,you mourne; Chri!lf:lith, you thall be comforted. Either now di!lrotl your Saviour, orelfe confdl"eyour bappinelfe,and with patience expetthis promifcd confolation. What doe you learc ~you fee others frand lil:e frrong Oakes, untb1kcn; unremovcd :you arc but~ reed, afeeble plant, tolfed and bo1ved with every wind, and C with much agitation bruifed; Loe, you are in tender and fJvourable hands, th•r ncv<r brake any, whom their fins bruifed; never bruifed any, whom temptations have bowed.You are but flax;and your bell is not a flame,but an obfcure fmoake of grace: to,herehis fpitit is as a foft wind,not as cold watcr;he will kindle,will never quench you. The farrow you want,is his gift : take heed lcfr while yori vex your fdtc with dillikeofthemeafure, you grudge atthe giver. Beggers may not chufc, This portioh he hath vouchfafed to give you; ifyou haveany, it is more then be was bound to befrow: yet you fay, What no more! as ifyou tooke itunkindly,that he is no more liberall. Even thefc holy difcomemments are d.aogcrous. Ddire more (fo much as you can) but r<pine not1 when you doe not attaine. Dcfire,bur fo as you be free from impatience, free from unthankfulnelfe: Thofc rhlt h~ve tried, can fay how difficult it D is to complaine, :virh_due r~fervation of thanks.Neither know I whether is worfc; To long for good thtngs Impatrcnrly, or not at all to deftre them. The fault ofyour for. row is rarhcr in your conceir, then in it felfe. And,ifindeed you mourne not enough fray but. Gods_ldfure,and youreyes thall run over with re~res.~ow many do you fe~ fporr with therr fins,ye,brag ofthem~how many thatthould dte for want ofpafrime if they might not finne freely , and more freely talke of it~ What a Saint ate you t~ thcfe, that can droop underrhe memory ofthe frailty ofyouth, and never think you have fpenr enow teares ! Yet fo 1 encourage you in what you have, as one that perfwades you not todefifr fwm (uing for mor<• It is good to be covetous ofgrace and to have our defires h<rdn enlarged with our rcccits. Weepe frill, and fiill deffre to wccpe: but letyourt;ares be as the raine in thefun-thine;comfonable and hopefull: E and let not your longmg favour ofmurmur,or dtfrrufr. Thefe reares are refcrved;this hunger lhall be f•risfied;this forrow 01al be comforted,There is nothing betwixt God and you, burtimc. Prefcribe not to hls wifedome: hafren not hismercy. His grace is enough for yon :his glory thall be more then enough, ToM.HuaH C HOLMLEY. E P.V. Conmningtht Ul1tt•phraft1ftht Pjilm<J. FEarenotmy immoderate !ludies. I have a body thatcorltto!s mecnoti•hin th<fc '?urles ; my friends n<ed nor. Then: is nothing whereof I could fo':,ncr furfet, 1fi durfi neglett my body to fatisfie mymind: but whiks I affed know- ~--------------------------------------------~~~·d~g~c,~~
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