Four useful discourses viz. ... /Four usefull discourses viz. ... /

There is a mighty Power to resist any Temptation. If the Truths of God were but kept in the Soul, we might make little of all Temptations in the World: The Devil could have little hope to prevail with any Temptations, if the Word of the Gospel did but abide upon the Heart of a Man or Woman that doth hear it. This is the advantage that the Devil hath at any time, when one hath been hearing of the Word, if he knows that the Word is past from them, and it doth not abide; then he can come with Temptations, and makes no question ⟨p. 190⟩of prevailing. But if the Devil knows that those Truths do abide and rest upon the Soul, the Devil can have little hope to prevail: The Peace of God shall keep your Hearts? Fro Resi, shall Guard your Hearts. It shall be as a Troop of Horse, to keep you from Temptations, from the power and strength of Temptations. You complain, and say, O that you would do better, but Temptations are so strong, that they prevail upon you. Why are Temptations so strong? It is because thy Soul is not acquainted with the Blessed and Glorious things of the Gospel; and the Power and Life of them doth not abide upon thy Spirit.

And likewise, the Truths of the Gospel: O they have a mighty deal of Power to cleanse your Hearts, 1 Pet. 2. 20. There you have mentioned the Power of the Knowledge of the Gospel, when it abides in one that might be an Hypocrite, and therefore not of that Efficacy that the true saving Knowledge is. Yet Observe, what is said there, For if after they have escaped the Pollutions of the World, through the Knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Now then, If that Knowledge have such a cleansing Power, O what Power then hath the true saving Power of the great things of the Gospel, and the Glorious things of it, to Cleanse the Heart.

And likewise, the Truths of the Gospel: O they have a mighty deal of Power to cleanse your Hearts, 1 Pet. 2. 20. There you have mentioned the Power of the Knowledg of the Gospel, when it abides in one that might be an Hypocrite, and therefore not of that Efficasie that the true saving Knowledg is. Yet Observe, what is said there, For if after they have escaped the Pollutions of the World, through the Knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Now then, If that Knowledg have such a cleansing Power, O what Power then hath the true saving Power of the great things of the Gospel, and the Glorious things of it, to Cleanse the Heart.