It is thy pleasure here to suffer thy dear children to be tempted; but suffer not temptations to prevail against thy Spirit and Grace. If temptation be like a torrent of water, to smother, quench, or hide the flame, yet wilt thou never let all the sparks of thy Grace be put out in the soul where once thou hast truly kindled it. But Lord! suffer not such floods to fall on my soul, where the spark is so small already, that it is even scarce discernible. O quicken it, and blow it up to a holy flame: Most gracious God! O do it here, who hast done it for many a soul! O what have I said! that I have a spark of grace! why the least spark is worth ten thousand times more ⟨p. 18⟩thanks than I can ever express! and I have been dead and unthankful, as is before confessed! And is that a sign of grace? Unthankful, dead, and dull I have been, and still am; but yet it must needs be from Gods gift in me, that I have any desires after him; and that this day I have desired to devote my self to him, and that I can say I would be more holy, and more heavenly, even as the Lord would have me be. Nay, I do know the time when I had none of these desires, and had no mind to God, and the ways of godliness; and do I not know that there be many in this condition who have no desires after Christ and holiness? Here then is matter of comfort given me from him that doth accept the desires of his poor creatures, even the Lord Christ, who will not quench the smoking flax, nor break the bruised reed. I see then that I have yet matter of rejoicing, and must labour to be so humbled for my remaining sins, as may tend to my future joy in believing; but not so as to be discouraged and frightened from God, who is longsuffering and abundant in mercy. Rouse up thy self then to God, my soul; humbly, but believingly repent that thou hast been so unthankful and insensible of the benefits this day received: up, up, and lie not down so heavily; God hath heard prayers for thee, and given thee life and opportunity to serve him. He hath given thee all the outward mercies thy heart can desire. He hath given thee dear, godly, able friends, such as can help thee in the way to heaven; yea he hath set them to beg spiritual mercies for thee, who prevailed for temporal for thee, and oft for many others;
It is thy pleasure here to suffer thy dear children to be tempted; but fuffer not temptations to prevail against thy Spirit and Grace. If temptation be like a torrent of water, to smother, quench, or hide the flame, yet wilt thou never let all the sparks of thy Grace be put out in the soul where once thou hast truly kindled it. But Lord! suffer not such floods to fall on my soul, where the spark is so small already, that it is even scarce discernible. O quicken it, and blow it up to a holy flame: Most gracious God! O do it here, who hast done it for many a soul! O what have I said! that I have a spark of grace! why the least spark is worth ten thousand times more ⟨p. 18⟩thanks than I can ever express! and I have been dead and unthankful, as is before confessed! And is that a sign of grace? Unthankful, dead, and dull I have been, and still am; but yet it must needs be from Gods gift in me, that I have any desires after him; and that this day I have desired to devote my self to him, and that I can say I would be more holy, and more heavenly, even as the Lord would have me be. Nay, I do know the time when I had none of these desires, and had no mind to God, and the ways of godliness; and do I not know that there be many in this condition who have no desires after Christ and holiness? Here then is matter of comfort given me from him that doth accept the desires of his poor creatures, even the Lord Christ, who will not quench the smoaking flax, nor break the bruised reed. I see then that I have yet matter of rejoycing, and must labour to be so humbled for my remaining sins, as may tend to my future joy in believing; but not so as to be discouraged and frightned from God, who is longsuffering and abundant in mercy. Rouze up thy self then to God, my soul; humbly, but believingly repent that thou hast been so unthankful and insensible of the benefits this day received: up, up, and lie not down so heavily; God hath heard prayers for thee, and given thee life and opportunity to serve him. He hath given thee all the outward mercies thy heart can desire. He hath given thee dear, godly, able friends, such as can help thee in the way to heaven; yea he hath set them to beg spiritual mercies for thee, who prevailed for temporal for thee, and oft for many others;
