So upon the other hand, when the Husband, Wife, Child, or other dear Relation draweth ⟨p. 129⟩near death, and all hope• are gone; and that layeth on an over-charge •eight, it giveth the same verdict of your submission, as before: Or suppose that God offereth to a man, a way of doing good to the Church, and it comes to be much blasted; and the door is more opened to some others of the party, that is on the other fide of the difference amongst honest men, who both designed the advancing of the great Work of the Gospel; Fo• the thriving whereof, ye pray by what ever of the sides, or parties; Yet I say, when the one side hath a wider door in Providence opened then the other, that grieves, and some way fre•s you; It telleth that you are not so indifferent and submissive, as to the success of the Work, by either of the sides, as ye suppose; For, when it cometh to the Decision, there is a loathness to take the answer, that thwarts the Inclination and Affection. 4ly: When doing, and forbearing compete together, so that ye are difficulted in your choice, consider which of the two, Carnal Reason, and the Grounds that it goeth on, sways you most to; As suppose the Case be, whether to take such a Place, or to follow such a Calling, or Course, that hath much Profit, or Preferment attending it, or to forbear; if ye inquire at Conscience (which should determine you) and yet still remain unclear, if these Grounds sway you, that would sway a merely natural man, it is to be suspected: Therefore, though in some Cases, God may call a man to such a thing, to such a Place or Station, yet he should search well, and see that •e be clear in his call to1 it in particular, because there is something here of a self-interest, that will be very ready to cast the Balance. 5ly. Consider, and compare your own Inclination, with the advice of others in the thing, when it may be ye get divers advices anent it, and none of the different advisers offer Reasons for their advice, or, if they do when the Reasons of such as comply ⟨p. 130⟩not with your own Inclination▪ are not so narrowly examined, and the reasons of the other, that seem to be more compliant with your Inclination, are listened to▪ in that Case, what your Inclination sideth with, will easily tell you, if ye be indifferent, and have indeed attained to submission in the thing, or, if ye be led by a sinful di•emper:
So upon the other hand, when the Husband, Wife, Child, or other dear Relation draweth ⟨p. 129⟩near death, and all hope• are gone; and that layeth on an over-charg• •eight, it giveth the same verdict of your submission, as •efore: Or suppone that God offereth to a man, a way of doing good to the Church, and it comes to be much blasted; and the door is more opened to some others of the party, that is on the other fide of the difference amongst honest men, who both designed the advancing of the great Work of the Gospel; Fo• the thriving whereof, ye pray by what ever of the sides, or parties; Yet I say, when the one side hath a wider door in Providence opened then the other, that grieves, and some way fre•s you; It telleth that you are not so indifferent and submissive, as to the successe of the Work, by either of the sides, as ye suppose; For, when it cometh to the Decision, there is a loathnesse to take the answer, that thwarts the Inclination and Affection. 4ly: When doing, and forbearing compete together, so that ye are difficulted in your choice, consider which of the two, Carnal Reason, and the Grounds that it goeth on, sweys you most to; As suppone the Case be, whether to take such a Place, or to follow such a Calling, or Course, that hath much Profit, or Preferment attending it, or to forbear; if ye inquire at Conscience (which should determine you) and yet still remain unclear, if these Grounds swey you, that would swey a meerly natural man, it is to be suspected: Therefore, though in some Cases, God may call a man to such a thing, to such a Place or Station, yet he should search well, and see that •e be clear in his call to1 it in particular, because there is something here of a self-interest, that will be very ready to cast the Ballance. 5ly. Consider, and compare your own Inclination, with the advice of others in the thing, when it may be ye get divers advices anent it, and none of the different advisers offer Reasons for their advice, or, if they do when the Reasons of such as comply ⟨p. 130⟩not with your own Inclination▪ are not so narrowly examined, and the reasons of the other, that seem to be more complyant with your Inclination, are listned to▪ in that Case, what your Inclination sideth with, will easily tell you, if ye be indifferent, and have indeed attained to submission in the thing, or, if ye be led by a sinul diemper:
- 1This was in a time when places of power, and trust, were sought after, offered and embraced, under the Usurper.
