Owen - BT200 O97 1684

217 go enjoy. So do many countenance them!elves in their fpiritualfioth an<,! unbelief, keeping themfelves at liberty to feek for refrefbrnent and fatiffaction in other things, whilft thofe of the Gofpel are defpifed. And thef(t things are inconfiftent. While men look for their chief refrefhment and fa- ·tisfaction in temporal things, it is irnpoffible they Thonld feek after thofe that are fpirirual in a due manner. And ir muft be confeffed, that when we h·ave a due regard umo fpiritual,evangelical Confolatipns and Joys, it will abate and take offour affe[tions unto, and .fatisfaction in prefent enj,oyments, Phi!. 3· 8, 9· · . BUT there is no more fa.cred truth than this ; That where Chrift is prefent with Believers,where he is not withdrawn for a feafon from them , · where they live in the view of his Glory by faith as it is propofed unto them in , die Gofpel, he will give unto them at his own feafons fuch intimations of his love, fi1ch fi1pplies of his fpirit, fi.1ch holy joys and rejoicings, filch repofe of foul in affurance, as fhall refrelh their fouls, ·fill them with joy, f~uisfie them with fpirimal delight, and quicken theni unto all aCts of' holy Communion with himfelf. LET no fuch di(honour be t:efleCl:ed on the Gofpel, that whereas the faith of it, and obedience unro it, are nfually accompanied with outward troubles, Afflictions, Perfecurion, and Reproaches, as we are foretold they lhould be ; that it cloth not by its inward confolations and divine refrefuments, omballance all thofe evils which we may undergo upon the account of it. So to fbppofe, is ~xprdly ~.9ntrary ro the promife of Chrift himfelf

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