First, from his cavilling spirit, and1 from his siding with the old man against the new, with the flesh against the spirit, with corruption against grace, with the house of Saul, against the house of David, with the work of Satan, against the work of God. Sin is Satan's work, grace, holiness, is Gods; yet such is the weakness, yea madness of many poor souls, that they will fall in, and side with Satan's work, rather then with Gods against their own souls. Ah Christians, will you condemn that Judge for injustice, and unrighteousness, that shall open his ears to the complaints of ⟨p. 54⟩the Plaintiff, but stop his ears against2 the answers of the Defendant; and will you not condemn your selves for that you do with both ears hear what Sin and Satan hath to say against the soul, but have not one ear open to hear what the Spirit, what grace, what the New-man, what the noble part of man, what the regenerate man can say for the justification, satisfaction, and consolation of the soul. Let me tell thee, O thou cavilling soul, that it is thy wisdom, and thy duty to remember that that command of God, that doth prohibit thee from bearing false witness against thy neighbour, that same command doth enjoin thee not to bear false witness against the work of grace upon thy own heart, against the precious and glorious things that God hath done for thy soul. And thou shouldest make as much conscience of bearing false witness against any thing the Lord hath wrought in thee, and for thee, as thou doest make conscience of bearing false witness against thy neighbour. It cannot but be sad with the soul, but be night with the soul, ⟨p. 55⟩when it makes much conscience of the one, and no conscience of the other. Many heathens have been so loving and faithful one to another, that they would rather dye, then they would bear false witness one against another: How dare you cavilling souls then to bear false witness against your own souls, and the gracious work of the Lord upon them. If this be not the way to keep off assurance, and keep the soul in darkness, yea in a hell, I know nothing.
First, from his cavilling spirit, and1 from his siding with the old man against the new, with the flesh against the spirit, with corruption against grace, with the house of Saul, against the house of David, with the worke of Satan, against the worke of God. Sinne is Satans worke, grace, holiness, is Gods; yet such is the weaknesse, yea madnesse of many poore soules, that they will fall in, and side with Satans worke, rather then with Gods against their owne soules. Ah Christians, will you condemne that Judge for injustice, and unrighteousnesse, that shall open his eares to the complaints of ⟨p. 54⟩the Plaintiffe, but stop his ears against2 the answers of the Defendant; and will you not condemne your selves for that you doe with both ears heare what Sinne and Satan hath to say against the soule, but have not one eare open to heare what the Spirit, what grace, what the New-man, what the noble part of man, what the regenerate man can say for the justification, satisfaction, and consolation of the soule. Let mee tell thee, O thou cavilling soule, that it is thy wisdome, and thy duty to remember that that command of God, that doth prohibit thee from bearing false witnesse against thy neighbour, that same command doth enjoyne thee not to beare false witnesse against the worke of grace upon thy owne heart, against the precious and glorious things that God hath done for thy soul. And thou shouldest make as much conscience of bearing false witnesse against any thing the Lord hath wrought in thee, and for thee, as thou doest make conscience of bearing false witnesse against thy neighbour. It cannot but be sad with the soule, but be night with the soule, ⟨p. 55⟩when it makes much conscience of the one, and no conscience of the other. Many heathens have been so loving and faithful one to another, that they would rather dye, then they would beare false witnesse one against another: How dare you cavilling souls then to beare false witnesse against your owne soules, and the gracious worke of the Lord upon them. If this bee not the way to keep off assurance, and keep the soule in darknesse, yea in a hell, I know nothing.
- 1Cease cavilling thou weak soul, and say (Quod fui Demine ignosce, quod sum corrige quod ero dirige) O Lord forgive what I have been, correct what I am, direct what I shall be.
- 2When John Prostiborski Baron of Schanow was laid on the rack, he with an heroical indignation cut out his tongue, and cast it away, being demanded why he did so, set down his answer with a quill on the wall, I did it (said he) because I would not be brought by any tortures to say any thing, that is false against my self, or others. Ah, cavilling souls, I had almost said, that you were better cut out your tongues then suffer them to be still a cavilling against the grace of God, the image of God, that is stamped upon you.When John Prostiborski Baron of Schanow was laid on the racke, he with an heroical indignation cut out his tongue, and cast it away, being demanded why he did so, set down his answer with a quill on the wall, I did it (said he) because I would not be brought by any tortures to say any thing, that is false against my selfe, or others. Ah, cavilling souls, I had almost said, that you were better cut out your tongues then suffer them to be still a cavilling against the grace of God, the image of God, that is stamped upon you.
