A39695:347
The touchstone of sincerity, or, The signs of grace and symptoms of hypocrisy opened…The touchstone of sincerity, or, The signs of grace and symptomes of hypocrisie opened…
The touchstone of sincerity, or, The signs of grace and symptoms of hypocrisy opened in a practical treatise upon Revelations III 17, 18 being the second part of the Saint indeed / by John Flavell ...The touchstone of sincerity, or, The signs of grace and symptomes of hypocrisie opened in a practical treatise upon Revelations III 17, 18 being the second part of the Saint indeed / by John Flavell ...
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1698
Title page typeset from the transcription.
THE Touchstone of Sincerity: OR, THE SIGNS Of GRACE, AND Symptoms o… › Chapter 6 › Section 5
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
3. Thirdly, They are troubled for the estrangements of God, and the hiding of his face from them because of their Sin. It would go close to an ingenuous spirit to see a dear and faithful friend whom he hath grieved, to look strange and shy upon him at the next meeting; as if he did not know him: much more doth it go to the heart of a gracious man to see the face of God turned from him, and not to be towards him as in times past. This went to Davids heart after his fall, as you may see, Psal. 51. 11. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy spirit from me; q. d. Lord, if thou turn thy back upon me, and estrange thy self from me, I am a lost man: that is the greatest mischief than can befall me.
3. Thirdly, They are troubled for the estrangements of God, and the hiding of his face from them because of their Sin. It would go close to an ingenuous spirit to see a dear and faithful friend whom he hath grieved, to look strange and shy upon him at the next meeting; as if he did not know him: much more doth it go to the heart of a gracious man to see the face of God turned from him, and not to be towards him as in times past. This went to Davids heart after his fall, as you may see, Psal. 51. 11. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy spirit from me; q. d. Lord, if thou turn thy back upon me, and estrange thy self from me, I am a lost man: that is the greatest mischief than can befal me.
4. Fourthly, Their troubles for sin run deep, to what other Mens do. They are strong to bear other troubles, but quail and fain• under this: Psal. 38. 4. other sorrows may for the present be violent, and make more noise; but this sorrow soaks deeper into the soul.