The truly blessed man

3. God now lets Satan loose upon them. He indeed is ready enough for this work on his own accord: for though he will keep men secure as long as he can, yet if God disquiet them, and he cannot wheedle them into rest, he now seeks to hurry them over the precipice of despair: but God governs this affair too. He must have leave, especially in regard of Gods own, Luk. 22.31. And ⟨p. 180⟩when he hath, he shoots in his fiery darts; and though these Temptations are wicked, as they come from him, yet they are righteous judgments, as managed by Gods permissive Providence. Now, they meditate terrors, entertain black thoughts, are full of horrors, and are ready to precipitate into desperation it self.

3. God now lets Satan loose upon them. He indeed is ready enough for this work on his own accord: for though he will keep men secure as long as he can, yet if God disquiet them, and he cannot wheedle them into rest, he now seeks to hurry them over the precipice of despair: but God governs this affair too. He must have leave, especially in regard of Gods own, Luk. 22.31. And ⟨p. 180⟩when he hath, he shoots in his fiery darts; and though these Temptations are wicked, as they come from him, yet they are righteous judgments, as managed by Gods permissive Providence. Now, they meditate terrours, entertain black thoughts, are full of horrours, and are ready to precipitate into desperation it self.

4. And now God withholds from them his Consolations, so that they cannot receive comfort or support by them. There are such Cordials in the Word, as are fitted for such Souls, and possibly are offered them in the Ministry, or privately set before them, but they put them away as not belonging to them, they ieve them not, but rather aggravate their trouble,