The Christian's charter showing the privileges of a believerThe Christian's charter shewing the priviledges of a believer

¹1. God denies comfort to exercise grace. We are impatient if we have not comfort presently; and truly, did we carve for our selves, we should often cut the worst piece; a Christian would ever be upon Mount Tabor, looking into Canaan, ⟨p. 301⟩he is loath to come down into the valley, and be in trials, agonies, temptations, as if God could not love us except he had us in his arms: God will have us without comfort sometimes; to make us row against tide, believe against hope. Of what use were the Stars, if the Sun did always shine? how could patience have it's perfect work, how could repentance' if we were always upon the Mount of joy? Rachel is more fair, but Leah is more fruitful; comfort is fair to look upon, but grace is better then comfort. A Christian should rather pray for a fruitful heart then fair weather; oftentimes when God lets down comfort into the heart, we begin to let down care. As it is with Musicians, before they have money, they will play you many a sweet lesson; but as soon as you throw them down money, they are gone, you hear no more of them: ⟨p. 302⟩Before joy & assurance, oh the sweet music of Prayer and Repentance! but when God throws down the comforts of his Spirit, we either begin to leave off duty; or at least slacken the strings of our Vial, & grow remiss in it: thou art taken with the money, but God is taken with the music; thou art taken with comfort, but God is more taken with thy faith: when there is too much sunshine, oftentimes there follows a drought in our graces.

¹1. God denies comfort to exercise grace. We are impatient if we have not comfort presently; and truly, did we carve for our selves, we should often cut the worst piece; a Christian would ever bee upon Mount Tabor, looking into Canaan, ⟨p. 301⟩he is loath to come downe into the valley, and be in trials, agonies, temptations, as if God could not love us except hee had us in his armes: God will have us without comfort sometimes; to make us row against tyde, beleeve against hope. Of what use were the Starres, if the Sunne did alwayes shine? how could patience have it's perfect work, how could repentance' if we were alwayes upon the Mount of joy? Rachel is more fair, but Leah is more fruitfull; comfort is fair to look upon, but grace is better then comfort. A Christian should rather pray for a fruitfull heart then fair weather; oftentimes when God lets downe comfort into the heart, wee begin to let down care. As it is with Musicians, before they have money, they will play you many a sweet lesson; but as soone as you throw them down money, they are gone, you heare no more of them: