348 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. which he gives him to take along with him for his fur- niture and provision in his way, and thereby testifies to him his sincerity. And this serves, like the food of Eli- jah, for forty days in a wilderness condition. Some- times he is pleased to shine immediately into the soul in the midst of its darkness and sorrow, wherewith it is surprised, as not looking for any such expression of kindness, and is thereby relieved against its own press- ing self-condemnation. And sometimes the Lord is pleased to give these tokens of love to the soul as its refreshment, when it is coming out of the storm of temptations wherewith it has been tossed. And many other times and seasons there are wherein God is pleased to give believers some special testimony to their own integrity. But these are all wrought by a transient ope- ration of the Spirit, exciting and enabling the heart to a spiritual sensible apprehension and receivingof God's kindness towards it. These things abide not in the power which they have upon our affections, but soon pass away. They are therefore to be treasured tip in the mind, to be improved by faith, as occasion shall require i but we are apt to lose them. Most men know no other benefit óf them but the joy whilst they feel them; yea, through ignorance in our duty to improve them, they prove like a sudden light brought into a dark place and again removed, which seems to increase and really ag- gravates our sense of the darkness. The true use of them is to lay them up and ponder them in our hearts, that they may be supports to us in a time of need. Have you then, who are now in the dark as to the question whether you are regenerate or not, ever received any such refreshing and cheering testimony from God given
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