upontheEpiftleof JAMBs. VERS.2I. dote and near the heart, always in the eye ()f faith, and the arms of ·love. · 3 , You mull: go toworl< Evangelically, and with a fpirit fuitii1g 1 , th~ Gofpd : Confider and underfrand your evidences and .graces . .not in a legal perfet1ion, but asJPrinkjed with the blood&j ~he Covenant: Ifyou lhould look forlove, fear, faith, hope, in chat per.. 1 feClion which the Law requireth, the heart will frill be ktpt un– fetled: Your buGnefs is to look to the truth, rather then the meafure; ufually men bring their g es rather to the b.t!l:mcr:, ' then to the touch-flone' ana wr:igb them when they fiwnld try them, as if the quantity and muzfure were more conf1derable then the dfence and nature. •fis good to own grace, though mingled with much weaknefs: The children ofGod have pleaded che trud1 of their graces, ~hen con.fcious to them[dves of many .failings; (~ent.r.5.1 am black_,, bttt comely: There is grace, though undtr the vail and cloud ofmuch weakne[s. So C'ant.5. z, I ~etp,but my ~ . , heart Wak!th: The Spou[e Imh a double afpeCl: to whac was evil, and what was good. So he in the Gofpel could with confidence . plead his fa-ith , thongh humbled with fad relicks and remains ofunbelief; Lord, I believe, help my u;;belicf, Mar /z. J 9· 24. We mufi not bear falfe witnefs againll: others, much le(s a– gainll our (elves; and therefore o.wn aJ1tde ·good, though in th:: midfl: ofmuch evil. 3· You mull go toworl< pmdemly, underfiaAding the nature of · marks, and the time to uf:' them; every thing is beautiful in irs fea– fon: There are times of defercion, when graces are not viGble; In · dark._nefs \Ve can neither I ee blaclznar white : In times of great de– jection and difcouragemenc the work of a Chri!l:ian is not to try, but believe; Let him flay himfe!f 01J theName ofGod, /fa. 5o. 1 o. ~ris moO: feafonable to encourage the Soul to acts of faith, and to reflect upon the abfolute Promifes, rather then conditional: The abfolute Promifes were intended by God as attractives and encou– ~agemencs to fuch d·Hlreffed Souls; there is a time when the Soul ts .apt to Oumber, and to be furprized with acarelefs fecurity, ·then . ..us good to awaken it by.a ferious rryal; toaloofe carnaHpiric an.a/Jfolute Promi/e is as poy(on, to a dejected fpirit as cheering wmt. When the Soullyeth under fear and fenfe of guilt, ' cis un– able to-judg, therefore examination cloth but increafe the trouble: But aga-in, when the heart is drowfie and carelefs tryat is mofr in · Sf 3 feafon ;
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=