Answ. And was not Christ our Saviour tempted so? There is but three particular Temptations mentioned in all the forty days of Christs Temptation; and two of them run so; If thou be the Son of God? wherein Satan labours to draw a cloud upon Christs Assurance, and to write an IF, upon his Child-ship, or Son-ship. Do you think to march through your Enemies Country to Heaven, and never be at a stand about your Condition? Suppose a man should travel through a strange Country which were very long, wherein he never was before, and wherein are many cross ways; would you not wonder that •e should •ravel all the way, and never be at a stand about […], •ever question his way, whether right, or wrong? If you be the Child of God, you are now from home, and travelling […] a strange Country; and do you think it is possible, […] •ould it not be a wonder, that meeting with so many cross wai•s, you should never be at a stand about your Condition, or question your way, whether you be right or no? Give me leave to propound you a Parable: Suppose two men, one goes very brave, fares deliciously, is very merry, and full of money; yet hath no Lands, no Calling, nothing left him, no friends to maintain him, nor no honest way known to bring him in money, and yet he is full of it: The other works hard, fares meanly, goes plainly, and he is oft complaining, I fear I shall want, and miscarry, yet he hath a Calling, some Land, good Friends, and some Money: Which of these two think you, doth come most honestly by his Money? Will you not all say, the latter? For, though he hath but little, yet he works, hath a Lawful Calling, ways known for to bring it in. But as for the other, though fine brave, and looks high, yet he hath nothing to bring it in; I sear he comes not well by it. So Spiritually: there are two sorts of People in the world, One that is very confident of his Salvation, and full of Comfort, yet he prayeth not in private, reads not, meditates not, examineth not his own heart, takes no pains about his soul, but is often spending, keeping ill company, will be sometimes drunk, swear, and be unclean, yet he is very confident ⟨p. 139⟩he shall go to Heaven: The other prays, hears, reads, meditates, walketh with all strictness in his life, and conversation, yet he is always doubting, and fearing; but through Grace he hath some Comfort:
Answ. And was not Christ our Savior tempted so? There is but three particular Temptations mentioned in all the forty daies of Christs Temptation; and two of them run so; If thou be the Son of God? wherein Satan labors to draw a cloud upon Christs Assurance, and to write an IF, upon his Child-ship, or Son-ship. Do you think to march through your Enemies Countrey to Heaven, and never be at a stand about your Condition? Suppose a man should travel through a strange Countrey which were very long, wherein he never was before, and wherein are many cross waies; would you not wonder that •e should •ravel all the way, and never be at a stand about 〈…〉, •ever question his way, whether right, or wrong? If you be the Child of God, you are now from home, and travelling 〈…〉 a strange Countrey; and do you think it is possible, 〈…〉 •ould it not be a wonder, that meeting with so many cross wai•s, you should never be at a stand about your Condition, or question your way, whether you be right or no? Give me leave to propound you a Parable: Suppose two men, one goes very brave, fares deliciously, is very merry, and full of money; yet hath no Lands, no Calling, nothing left him, no friends to maintain him, nor no honest way known to bring him in money, and yet he is full of it: The other works hard, fares meanly, goes plainly, and he is oft complaining, I fear I shal want, and miscarry, yet he hath a Calling, some Land, good Friends, and some Money: Which of these two think you, doth come most honestly by his Money? Will you not all say, the latter? For, though he hath but little, yet he works, hath a Lawful Calling, waies known for to bring it in. But as for the other, though fine brave, and looks high, yet he hath nothing to bring it in; I sear he comes not well by it. So Spiritually: there are two sorts of People in the world, One that is very confident of his Salvation, and full of Comfort, yet he prayeth not in private, reads not, meditates not, examineth not his own heart, takes no pains about his soul, but is often spending, keeping ill company, will be somtimes drunk, swear, and be unclean, yet he is very confident ⟨p. 139⟩he shall go to Heaven: The other praies, hears, reads, meditates, walketh with all strictness in his life, and conversation, yet he is alwaies doubting, and fearing; but through Grace he hath some Comfort:
