Ver. 4. Means ofthe Aggravation ofAfflitiïon, 4, Aíittions find fome entangled withVery Jtrong corruptions, as Love ofthe World,or thepleafure ofit,ofName or Repurati- on,of great contrivances for poflerity, and the like ; or it may be in thingscarnal or fenfual.Nowwhen thefe unexpetedly meet together; great Aflieiiosss and ftrong Corruptions, it is not me- conceivable what a combu(tion they will make in the foul. As afirong medicine or potion meeting with aJtrong or tough diftem- per in the body ; there is a violent contention innature between them and about them, fo that oftentimes the very life of the patient is endangered. So it is where a great tryal, a fmart [iroke of the hand of God, falls upon a perfon in the midfl of hH purfuit of the Effeeis of force corruptions ; the foul is amazed even to diflration, and can fcarce have any thought, but that God is come to cut the perfonoff in the midli of his fin. Every unmortified corruption fills the very fear and expectation of Af- flic;}ion, wirh horrour. 'And there is good Reafon that fo it fhould do; for although God tbould be merciful untomens Ini- quities, yet if he fhould come to take Vengeance of their Inven- tions, their conditionwould be dark and forrowful. 5. Satan is never wanting in fuch Occafions to attempt the compafling of his Ends, upon perlons that are exercifed un- der the handofGod: In the timeoffufering it was, that he fell upon the Head of the Church, turning it into the very hour of the power ofdarkneß. And he will not omit any appearing opportunities of Advantage againfl his Members. And this is that which he principally in fuch feafons attacks them with- all; namely, that God regards tbemnot, that they are fallen un- der his Judgement and Severity, as thofe whohave no Ihare in Mercy, Pardonor Forgivenefì, From thefe and the 'like Reafons, I fay, it is, that whereas AffliRions ingeneral are fo teflified unto, tobe fuch pledges and tokens ofGods Love and Care to be deigned unto blefed ends, as conformity unto Chrifl, and a participationof the Holinefs of God ; yet by reafon of thefeCircumftances, they often prove means ofcafling the foul into depths, and of hindering it from a refrefhing intereíl in theforgivenefs that is withGod. That this may prove no real or abiding ground of inward fpiritual trouble unto the foul, the following Rules And Direüions may be obferved. T t z z. Not 325
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