The doctrine & directions but more especially the practice and behaviour of a man…The doctrine & directions but more especially the practice and behavior of a man…

1. In fiercest Temptations; when Satan begins to besiege the heart of a poor sinner, and lays battery against him, see how the humbled heart runs him out of breath at his own weapons: Dost thou think (says Satan) to get mercy from the Lord, when thy own conscience dogs thee? nay, go to the place where thou livest, & to the chamber where thou liest, and consider thy fearful abominations, sure God will not respect the prayers of any such vile sinners. True (saith the poor soul) I have often denied the Lord when he called upon me, and therefore he may justly deny me all the prayers I make; yet thus he hath commanded, that seek to him for mercy I must, and if the Lord will cast me away, and reject my prayers, I am contented therewith; What then Satan? What then, saith the Devil? I thought this would have made thee to despair; but this is not all, for God will give thee over, and leave thee to thy self, to thy lusts and corruptions, and thy latter end shall be worse then thy beginning; thou mayest call and cry, and when thou hast done be overthrown; God will leave thee to thy self, and suffer thy corruptions to prevail against thee, and thou shalt fall fearfully, to the wounding of thy conscience, to the grieving of Gods people, to the scandal of the Gospel, to the reproach of thy own person. To this answers the humbled soul, If the Lord will give me up to my base lusts, which I have given my self so much liberty in, and if the Lord will leave me to my sins, because I have left his gracious commands; and if I shall fall one day, and be disgraced and dishonoured, yet let the Lord be honoured, and let not God lose the praise of his ⟨p. 35⟩Power and Justice, and I am contented therewith; what then Satan? What then, saith the Devil? I sure thought now thou wouldst have despaired; but this is not all, for when God hath left thee to thy sins, then will he break out in vengeance against thee, and make thee an example of his heavy vengeance to all ages to come; and therefore it is best for thee to prevent this untimely Judgement by some untimely death. To this replies the Soul, Whatsoever God can do or will do, I know not, yet so great are my sins, that he cannot, or (at least) will not do so much against me as I have justly deserved: Come what will come, I am contented still to be at the Lords disposal; what then Satan? and thus he runs Satan out of breath.

1. In fiercest Temptations; when Satan begins to besiege the heart of a poor sinner, and lays battery against him, see how the humbled heart runs him out of breath at his own weapons: Dost thou think (says Satan) to get mercy from the Lord, when thy own conscience dogs thee? nay, go to the place where thou livest, & to the chamber where thou liest, and consider thy fearful abominations, sure God will not respect the prayers of any such vile sinners. True (saith the poor soul) I have often denyed the Lord when he called upon me, and therefore he may justly deny me all the prayers I make; yet thus he hath commanded, that seek to him for mercy I must, and if the Lord will cast me away, and reject my prayers, I am contented therewith; What then Satan? What then, saith the Devil? I thought this would have made thee to dispair; but this is not all, for God will give thee over, and leave thee to thy self, to thy lusts and corruptions, and thy latter end shall be worse then thy beginning; thou mayest call and cry, and when thou hast done be overthrown; God will leave thee to thy self, and suffer thy corruptions to prevail against thee, and thou shalt fall fearfully, to the wounding of thy conscience, to the grieving of Gods people, to the scandal of the Gospel, to the reproach of thy own person. To this answers the humbled soul, If the Lord will give me up to my base lusts, which I have given my self so much liberty in, and if the Lord will leave me to my sins, because I have left his gracious commands; and if I shall fall one day, and be disgraced and dishonored, yet let the Lord be honored, and let not God lose the praise of his