I - -----------~---------------. I Opened and Applied. :25 \ ________________________________________ ~-- ! Fourrhl y, That Chriflians mufl gather no _evi~ence from S~nCfificarion ; we (ball finde rbe root of ir to b~ dJfficulcy, wh1ch 1s never floths bed-fellow. I x. It is difficult to be holy always, bur rhere will be many weakndfes and fins,&c. I z. w~en we do fo, it will be hard ro difc~rn wbar holinefs ic is, whetb.:r , counterfeit or nor. I ~· When we do fo, 'ris bard ro keep ir, but youwilllofe ic again, :tnd be pur ro farrber fearcb, and fo offand on: I believe Chriltians mak~ rhem more 1 1 difficul t rh an indeed rbey are; but yet ir i! the Lords way; Scripture is plain for 1 it; and if avoided becaufe ditficulc (which eo many is fweet) what is rhis bur an I invention of florb ? I Fifthly, That whar a man cannot do, is always aweaknefs which rhe Lord , will pardon : Sometimes ir is ; but nor here!; for a mans chief fin may be kept i ttnfubdued from rhis ground, which flotb makes warrantable. I Sixrhly, That if once rhe main be wroughr, thoueh he never grow better, ye\ he is to keep his peace and confidence; Oh imreac rhe (ord w keep your I heads found ( rhoughbearts be fluggifh) foas you may;noc love, anddefend your fecurity, and then go and leave CbriH. • I .. ,--,.----------------;__- sECT. IX. L Errhis b~ a warning to all, that rbere is fuch an enemy to b~ fl~in; truly I had thought if I could have got my heart broken , if I could feek the Lord rill I had gouen apromife,tben Iihould be wellen0ugh; Oh no,there is a flothful heart yet ceminuetb ; and let ic be encouragement ro war againlt it; ob 'tis the lalt enemy, and then comes your crown, and then your w11fare is ended; and therefore do as Sampfon; Lord, ht!p this one time, that I may be ave.~gcdfor my two eyes; fo, thou halt been made a flave to it in private duties, and God hath negle&ed thee; In publick, at meetings you have been forced tofleep, that an Indian it may be, if he bad flood by would have jogged thee ; therefore pray, Oh help Lord this one time ( though I dye) againfl: this on~ enemy; Thus Paul 1 Cor.9.u/t, Is an immortal cro1vn nothing? will it be no forrow to you when yoo awake, to lofe eternal relt in God, for a little refl in thy fiorb? Oh therefore beat down thy body ; it is the lafl:, henL-e the worlt enemy; fay as Judg,9. 54· What ihall I fall by awoman? ihall I fall by the worfl:? why did I oppofe lu!t and pride? ob, becaufe vile; why, rhis is worfe; it is the Ia!t, and hence Cbrilt bates it mofl:; and barb be given ltrength again'lt any fin, and will he not againfi this 1 Oh therefore pray God that you fall not here. ,. D d d CH A J. \ Ufe 5• Judg.: x6. t8.
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