Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses

CASE VI. I see myself fall so far short of the saints mentioned in the scriptures, and of several excellent persons of my own acquaintance; that, when I look on them, I can hardly look on myself as one of the same family with them. Ans. It is indeed matter of humiliation, that we get not forward to that measure of grace and holiness, which we see is attainable in this life. This should make us more vigorously press towards the mark: But surely it is from the devil, that weak Christians make a rack for themselves of the attainments of the strong. And to yield to this temptation, is as unreasonable, as for a child to dispute away his relation to his father, because he is not of the same stature with his elder brethren. There are saints of several sizes in Christ's family: some fathers, some young men, and some little children, 1 John ii. 13, 14.

CASE VII. I never read in the word of God, nor did I ever know of a child of God so tempted, and so left of God as I am; and therefore no saint's case being like mine, I cannot but conclude I am none of their number. Ans. This objection arises to some from their unacquaintedness with the scriptures, and with experienced Christians. It is profitable in this case, to impart the matter to some experienced Christian friend, or to some godly minister. This has been a blessed mean of peace to some persons; while their case, which appeared to them to be singular, has been evinced to have been the case of other saints. The scripture give instances of very horrid temptations, wherewith the saints have been assaulted: Job was tempted to blaspheme; this was the great thing the ••vil aimed at, in the case of that g•••t saint, Job i. 11. He will curse thee to thy f••e. Chap. ii. 9. Curse God and die, As•ph was tempted to think, it was in vain to be religious; which was in effect to throw […] religion, Psal lxx•ii. 13. Verily I have cleansed my […] in vain. Ye, Christ