A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

2. If strong Consolation be a Fruit of Certainty upon God's Oath; then it informs us, that it is a false Comfort and Peace which is not the Fruit of Certainty and Confidence in Christ, which ariseth either from a Neglect of Duty or carnal Pleasure; and all that wicked Men have, comes from one of these Grounds. It is good to look to the Fountain and Spring of our Joy and Comfort, that we may be able to say with the Psalmist, Thy Comforts delight my Soul, Psal. 94.19. We should look to the Ground and Reason of our Peace and Security; Why am I thus quiet? Is it because God is reconciled to me in Christ? because of Assurance from him, under his Oath, upon my taking Sanctuary in Christ? The Devil •ulls Men asleep by other means. Carnal Men their Comfort ariseth from Carelessness and Negligence in the spiritual Life; they do not trouble the Devil, nor he them. When a strong Man armed keeps his Palace, his Goods are in Peace, Luke 11.21. The Devil lets us alone, when we let him alone, when we do not exasperate Lusts, nor trouble his Kingdom in our Heart. Look as the Sea is very calm when Wind and Tide go together; so when our Corruptions and Satan's Temptations run the same way, all is calm and quiet. As a Man feels not the Sickness that grows upon him▪ ⟨p. 218⟩till the Humours are stirred by Exercise: So when there is a Spirit of Slumber and Security, and Men are neglectful and careless in the spiritual Life, and let Satan alone to possess the Heart, they sleep, but their Damnation slumbers not. Then for carnal Pleasure, this will not give them leave to think of their Condition▪ Their whole Life is nothing but a knitting of Pleasure to Pleasure, and a Diversion from one Contentment to another; so they put far off from themselves the Thoughts of their own eternal Condition. The outward Man is gratified, and the inward Man hath no time; they fill the Soul with Work; that it may not fall upon it self, as a Mill grinds not it self as long as it hath something to work upon: as the Prophet observes of those that drink Wine in Bowls, and put far away the evil Day,