[410] Of COì\Ti11UNION with they are flill ftriving, butnever come to a conqueft. Every new trouble, every little alteration in their tryals, puts.them to new vexation. it is an ungrounded refolution that bears them up, and they are eafily fhaken. (2.) What is the belt of their refolves and enduring ? It is but a con- tending with God, who bath entangled them ; the ftruggling ofa flea un- der a mountain. Yea, though on outward confiderations and principles, they endeavour after patience and tolerances yet all is but a contending with God, a ftriving to be quiet under that which God bath fent on pur- pofe to difturb them ; God cloth not afflict men without the Spirit, to ex- ercife their patience; but to difturb their peace and fecurity. All their arming them elves with patience and refolution, .is but to keep the hold, that God will call them out of; or elfe make them nearer to ruin. This is the belt of theirconfolation in the time of their trouble. (3.) Thirdly, if they do promife to themfelvesany thing of the care of God towardsthem, and relievethemfelves thereby, as they often do on one account or another, efpecially when they are driven from other holds, all their relief is but like thedreamingof an hungry man, who fuppofeth that he eateth and drinketh, and is refrefhed; but whenhe awaketh, he is emp- ty and difappointed. So are they as to all their relief, that they promife to receive from God, and the fupport which they feem to have from him. When they are awaked at the latter day, and fee all things clearly, they will findthat God was their enemy, laughing at their calamity, andmock- ing when theirfear was on them. So it is with them in trouble. And is it anybetter with them in their profperity ? This indeed is often great, and is marvelloufly defcribed in fcnpture, as to their lives, and often- times quiet, peaceable ends. But have they any true confolation all their days? They eat, drink, fleep, and make merry, and perhaps heapup to themfelves : but how little do thefe things make them to differ from the beafls that perilla? Solomon's advantage to have the ufe, and know the ut- 'mofl of thefe things, much beyond anyof the fons of men of our genera- tion, is coseironly taken notice of. The account alfo that he gives of them is known : they are all vanityand vexationoffpirit. This is their con- folation ; a crackling of thorns under the pot, a fudden dafn and blaze that begins but toperifh. So that both adverfity and profperity flayeth them, and whether they are laughingor crying, they are Rill dying. (2.) They have no peace; no peace with God, nor in their own fouls. I know that many of them upon falfe bottoms, grounds, and ex- peftations, domake a fhift to keep"things in force quietnefs. Neither is it my bufinefs at prefent to difcoverthe falneffes and unfoundnefs of it: but this is their (tate: true and'folid- peace being an effedt of the Holy Ghoft in the hearts of believers, as bath been declared, they whoare not made partakers of him, have no fuch peace. They may cry peace, peace, indeed, when fudden dellruclion is at hand. The principles of their peace, as may be eafily evidenced, are darknefs or ignorance, treachery of con. fcience, felf=righteoufsnefs, and vain hope. To thefe heads may all the principles of their peace be reduced, and what will thefe avail them in the day when the Lord fhall deal with theth (d.) I might fay the fame concerning their joy and hope: they are falfe and perifhing. Let them confider this, who have fatisfied themfelveswith a perfuaftonof their intereft in the good things of the gofpel, and yet have defpifed the Spirit of Chrift.' I know there are many that may pretend to him, and yet are ftrangers from his grace: but if they perdh, who in pro- felon
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