The divine life in three treatises

wherefore I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes.] If worldly love or carnal lust should stir •n such a one, how powerfully would the terrors of the Lord repress it? and his Majesty rebuke it? and his Love and Goodness overcome it? If worldly cares or murmuring discontents begin to trouble such a one, how effectually will the Goodness, the All sufficiency and the faithfulness of God allay them, and quiet and satisfy the soul, and cause it to be offended at its own offence, and to chide it self for its repinings and distrust? If Passion arise and begin to discompose us, how ⟨p. 268⟩powerfully will the presence of God rebuke it? and the reverence of his Majesty, and the sense of his Authority and pardoning grace will assuage it, and shame us into silent quietness; who dare let out his passions upon man, in the presence of his Maker, that apprehendeth his presence? The same I might say of all other sins.

wherefore I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes.] If worldly love or carnal lust should stir •n such a one, how powerfully would the terrours of the Lord repress it? and his Majesty rebuke it? and his Love and Goodness overcome it? If worldly cares or murmuring discontents begin to trouble such a one, how effectually will the Goodness, the All sufficiency and the faithfulness of God allay them, and quiet and satisfie the soul, and cause it to be offended at its own offence, and to chide it self for its repinings and distrust? If Passion arise and begin to discompose us, how ⟨p. 268⟩powerfully will the presence of God rebuke it? and the reverence of his Majesty, and the sense of his Authority and pardoning grace will asswage it, and shame us into silent quietness; who dare let out his passions upon man, in the presence of his Maker, that apprehendeth his presence? The same I might say of all other sins.

2. The presence and attributes of God apprehended by those that walk with him, is the potent remedy against Temptations. Who will once turn an eye to the gold and glory of the world that is offered him to allure him to sin, if he see God stand by? who would be tempted to lust or any sinful pleasure, if he observe the presence of the Lord? Satan can never come in so ill a time with his temptations, and have so little hope to speed, as when the soul is contemplating the attributes of God, or taken up in prayer with him, or any way apprehensive of his presence. The soul that faithfully walks with God, hath enough at hand in him to answer all temptations. And the further any man is from God, and the less he knoweth him, the more Temptations can do upon him.