Ver.4. Chri the only judge, &c. 277 to be chrerved by all thofe who intend to come to Gospel peace and Comfort. And then, Secondly, (hall confider fume fuch ObjeVions as seem to be mot} comp;ehcnfive of thofe special reasonings wherewith diflrifd persons do ufitally in- tangle themflves. I (hall begin with General Rules, which through theGrace of Chritl, and Supplyes of his Spirit, may be of utë unto Believers in the condition under consideration. RuL 1L I. Re not Judges of your own Condition, but let Chrifl judge. Grit} the You are invited to take the comfort of this Gafpel Truth , oftóú fpbe That there is Forgiveneß with God. You fay not for you ; fo ritt3al con- fatd Jacob ; My way it hid from the Lord,. Ifa. 40. 27. and dition. Sion Paid fo too, chap. 49.14. The Lord bath firfal<en me, and my Lord bath forgotten me. But did they make a right Judge- ment of themfelves ? We find in thole places that God was otherwise minded. This faire Judgement made by Souls in their intanglements, of their own Condition, is oft-times a moti unconquerable hinderance unto the betteringeofit. They fill themfelves with thoughts of their own aboat it, and on them they dwell, intiead of looking out after a Remedy. Misgiving thoughts of their dilempers, are commonly a great part of Tome mens ficknefs. Many difeafes arc apt to cloud the thoughts, and to caufe mifapprehentions concerning their own nature, and danger. And thefe dclufions are a real part of the perlons ficknefs. Nature is no lets impaired and weakened by them, the Efficacy of Remedies no lets obt}rueted, than by any other reali diflemper. In fuck cafes we perfwade men to acquiefce in the Judgement of their skilful' Phyfitian, not al- wayes to be wafting themfelves in and by their own tainted imaginations, and fo defpond upon their own miflakes; but to reti in what is informed them by him, who is acquaint- ed with the caufes and tendency of their indifpofition better than themfelves. It is oft-times one pare oftheSouls depths.. to have falfc apprehenfions of its Condition. Sin is a madneJ4 Ecclef 9.3. fo far as any one is under the power of it, he is under the power of madneß. Madnef? doth not sooner, nor Nil 3 more
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=