3. A sound and undeceiving persuasion that thou art everlastingly locked in the arms of Gods mercy and love, grounded upon the Word, seconded and set on by the Spirit; is a most rare and rich Jewell, which doth infinitely outshine and overweigh in sweetness and worth any rock of Diamond, Crystal Mountain, or this great Creation, were it all converted into one unvaluable Pearl; and therefore is infinitely envied, and assaulted mightily on all sides. ⟨p. 334⟩It is continually hunted like a Partridge on the Mountains by natural distrust, the policy of Satan, and all the powers of darkness. There is not a wicked spirit, but is transported with implacable indignation against that heaven upon earth; and therefore rages and roars about thee still, to rob and bereave thy humble breast of such an heavenly Gem. Besides the two main ends and general aims; of all the malice and machinations of those apostated angels: 1. the dishonour of God, and 2. the discomfort of mens souls; In this point they are peculiarly enraged with extreme hellish anger; to see a mortal man, a child of Adam, crowned by Gods merciful hand, even in this life, with right and interest, and as it were, an earnest penny of the Inheritance with the Saints in light, and of those blessed Mansions of glory and rest, of which, by their Apostasy and pride they have unhappily and everlastingly deprived themselves. Neither only so, but they employ also their Agents, envious to the grace of God and thine own fearful heart, to charge falsely many times upon thee, Hypocrisy and delusion, left that white 1stone given thee by the holy Ghost; the splendour and bsweetness whereof, none knoweth but he that hath it, should fairly shine upon thy sad soul with that lightsomeness and comfort, as it both may and ought. Whereupon it must needs follow, that if thy persuasion be well grounded and assurance true; it will be accompanied and often exercised with fears, jealousies, doubts, distrusts, varieties of temptations, Satan's fieriest darts, injected scruples, contradictions of flesh and blood, cavils of carnal reasons, want of comfortable feeling, &c. which will many times necessarily drive thee to cry mightily to God, and complain at the Throne of grace, against all this hellish ordnance and assaults of thy unbelieving heart;
3. A sound and vndeceiuing perswasion that thou art euerlastingly lockt in the armes of Gods mercy and loue, grounded vpon the Word, seconded and set on by the Spirit; is a most rare and rich Iewell, which doth infinitely outshine and ouerweigh in sweetenesse and worth any rocke of Diamond, Cristall Mountaine, or this great Creation, were it all conuerted into one vnualuable Pearle; and therefore is infinitely enuied, and assaulted mightily on all sides. ⟨p. 334⟩It is continually hunted like a Partridge on the Mountaines by naturall distrust, the policy of Satan, and all the powers of darkenesse. There is not a wicked spirit, but is transported with implacable indignation against that heauen vpon earth; and therefore rages and roares about thee still, to rob and bereaue thy humble brest of such an heauenly Iemme. Besides the two maine ends and generall aimes; of all the malice and machinations of those apostated angels: 1. the dishonour of God, and 2. the discomfort of mens soules; In this poynt they are peculiarly enraged with extreme hellish anger; to see a mortall man, a childe of Adam, crowned by Gods mercifull hand, euen in this life, with right and interest, and as it were, an earnest penny of the Inheritance with the Saints in light, and of those blessed Mansions of glory and rest, of which, by their Apostacy and pride they haue vnhappily and euerlastingly depriued themselues. Neither onely so, but they imploy also their Agents, enuious to the grace of God and thine owne fearefull heart, to charge falsely many times vpon thee, Hypocrisie and delusion, left that white 1stone giuen thee by the holy Ghost; the splendor and bsweetnesse whereof, none knoweth but hee that hath it, should fairely shine vpon thy sad soule with that lightsomenesse and comfort, as it both may and ought. Whereupon it must needes follow, that if thy perswasion be well grounded and assurance true; it will be accompanied and often exercised with feares, iealousies, doubts, distrusts, varieties of temptations, Satans firiest darts, iniected scruples, contradictions of flesh and blood, cauils of carnall reasons, want of comfortable feelign, &c. which will many times necessarily driue thee to cry mightily to God, and complaine at the Throne of grace, against all this hellish ordnance and assaults of thy vnbeleeuing heart;
- 1Reve. 2. 17.Reue. 2. 17.
- bAs none can comprehend the horror of an enraged guilty conscience, but the heart that endures it: so none can conceive the sweetness of the Spouses kiss, but the soul that receives it.As none can comprehend the horror of an enraged guilty conscience, but the heart that endures it: so none can conceiue the sweetenesse of the Spouses kisse, but the soule that receiues it.
