I speak the rather this point, because I know how useful it is unto many poor Souls, whom the Lord ⟨p. 182⟩is drawing unto Jesus Christ, the Lord hath taken off their Hearts from sinful self, they would not enjoy themselves in the lusts of the flesh as formerly, the Lord hath made them willing to deny their own opinion, their own wills, their own affections, their former ways, to deny themselves in the comforts of the things of this world, so as to prize him, and Christ, and his ways, the way of Christ more than they prize their very lives here in this world, and yet for all this, there comes a temptation upon them. I but, you seek Christ only to free you from Hell, and to save you, and therefore it is but self-Love, it is no true Grace, because that you aim at your selves, rather than Christ, the Devil cannot prevail with a Heart that is drawing to Christ, thus, telling of it, Oh! but you prize your lusts more than Christ, or you prize your ease more than Christ; or you prize your estate, and your liberty more than Christ, or your life more than Christ, if so be that the Devil shall come thus and tempt, such a soul could in some measure be able to answer, and to appeal unto God, and say, Lord! thou that knowest all things knowest it is otherwise, that howsoever my Heart heretofore went after my lusts, after the world, after my ease and liberty, and I followed the common course of the world, and made those things to be my greatest good and comfort, yet Lord, thou knowest it is otherwise with me now, my Heart is set for Christ, and I can say, from the bottom of my Soul, with that blessed martyr Lambert, None but Christ, none but Christ. Now when the Heart is got thus far, one would think thou mightest be above the Devil, and come to get assurance, I, saith the Devil, though you be taken off thus far, that you dare not commit any known sin, and you seek after Christ, more than your estate and your liberty, yet there is one thing more that your hearts is not taken off from, you do not prize Christ most of all, you seek Christ to save you from Hell, and bring you to Heaven, that is it that ⟨p. 183⟩you seek Christ for, and therefore I know your Heart is not right all this while, this is a temptation that seizeth upon many men.
I speak the rather this point, because I know how useful it is unto many poor Souls, whom the Lord ⟨p. 182⟩is drawing unto Jesus Christ, the Lord hath taken off their Hearts from sinful self, they would not enjoy themselves in the lusts of the flesh as formerly, the Lord hath made them willing to deny their own opinion, their own wills, their own affections, their former waies, to deny themselves in the comforts of the things of this world, so as to prize him, and Christ, and his waies, the way of Christ more than they prize their very lives here in this world, and yet for all this, there comes a temptation upon them. I but, you seek Christ only to free you from Hell, and to save you, and therefore it is but self-Love, it is no true Grace, because that you ayme at your selves, rather than Christ, the Devil cannot prevaile with a Heart that is drawing to Christ, thus, telling of it, Oh! but you prize your lusts more than Christ, or you prize your ease more than Christ; or you prize your estate, and your liberty more than Christ, or your life more than Christ, if so be that the Devil shal come thus and tempt, such a soul could in some measure be able to answer, and to appeal unto God, and say, Lord! thou that knowest all things knowest it is otherwise, that howsoever my Heart heretofore went after my lusts, after the world, after my ease and liberty, and I followed the common course of the world, and made those things to be my greatest good and comfort, yet Lord, thou knowest it is otherwise with me now, my Heart is set for Christ, and I can say, from the bottom of my Soul, with that blessed martyr Lambert, None but Christ, none but Christ. Now when the Heart is got thus farr, one would think thou mightest be above the Devil, and come to get assurance, I, saith the Devil, though you be taken off thus far, that you dare not commit any known sin, and you seek after Christ, more than your estate and your liberty, yet there is one thing more that your hearts is not taken off from, you do not prize Christ most of all, you seek Christ to save you from Hell, and bring you to Heaven, that is it that ⟨p. 183⟩you seek Christ for, and therefore I know your Heart is not right all this while, this is a temptation that seizeth upon many men.
