The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32…

In this sad case, though it be Gods course very often to let hypocrites and other enemies go on and prosper, because they have their portion in this life, and the reckoning is to come; yet I have oft observed that for Gods own people, or those that he means to make his people by their recovery, God useth to cross them in their worldly desires and designs: Perhaps he may let them thrive a while, and congratulate the prosperity of their flesh, but at last he breaks in suddenly on their wealth, and scatters it ⟨p. 299⟩abroad, or addeth some cross to it that embitters it all to them, and then asketh them, Where is now your Idol? and then they begin to see their folly. If you do dote on any thing below to the neglecting of God, he will make a rod for you of that very thing you dote upon; and by it will he scourge you home to himself.

In this sad case, though it be Gods course very often to let hypocrites and other enemies go on and prosper, because they have their portion in this life, and the reckoning is to come; yet I have oft observed that for Gods own people, or those that he means to make his people by their recovery, God useth to cross them in their worldly desires and designes: Perhaps he may let them thrive a while, and congratulate the prosperity of their flesh, but at last he breaks in suddenly on their wealth, and scatters it ⟨p. 299⟩abroad, or addeth some cross to it that imbitters it all to them, and then asketh them, Where is now your Idol? and then they begin to see their folly. If you do dote on any thing below to the neglecting of God, he will make a rod for you of that very thing you dote upon; and by it will he scourge you home to himself.

3. The third great heart-sin which I would have you jealous of, is Sensuality or Voluptuousness, or pleasing the senses inordinately. The two former are in this the more mortal sins, in that they carry more of the Understanding and Will with them, and make Reason it self to be serviceable to them in their workings; whereas sensuality is more in the flesh and passion, and hath oft times less assistance of Reason or Consent of the Will. Yet is the Will tainted with sensual inclinations, and both Reason and Will are at the best guilty of connivance, and not exercising their authority over the sensual part. But in this sensuality is the more dangerous vice, in that it hath so strong and inseparable a seat as our sensual appetite; and in that it acteth so violently and ragingly as it doth; so that it beareth down a weak opposition of Reason and Will, and carrieth us on blindfold, and transformeth us into brutes. I