ened to; and therefore they must repent, and humble themselves, that the wrath threatened might not be executed, &c.*

Rem. 4. Seriously consider, that all the strange, dark, deep, and changeable providences, that believers meet with, shall further them in their way to heaven, in their journey to happiness. Divine wisdom and love will so order all things here below, that they shall work for the real, internal, and eternal good of them that love him. All the rugged providences that David. met with, contributed to bring him to the throne.t And all the uncomfortable provi. dences Daniel and the three children met with contributed to their great advancement. So all the disappointing providences believers meet with, shall all contribute to lift up their souls above all things below God. As the waters lifted-up Noah's ark nearer heaven; and as the stones wherewith Stephen was slain, were only instruments of conveying his soul more speedily into Christ's presence-chamber; so every trying providence we meet with in this life, being sanctified, shall be instrumental of raising us nearer to heaven, and the enjoyment of Christ.

*The motions of divine Providence are so dark, so deep, so changeable, that the wisest and noblest souls, cannot tell what conclusions to make.

† Orosius speaking of Valentinian, saith, "He that for Christ's name sake had lost a tribuneship, within a while. after succeeded his persecutor in the empire.

CHAPTER IV.

The fourth Device that Satan hath to keep souls in a sad, doubting, and questioning condi tion, is,

BY suggesting to them, that their graces are not true, but counterfeit. Saith Satan, all is not gold that glitters, all is not free grace that you count and call grace. That which you call faith, is but fancy; and that which you call zeal, is but unnatural heat and passion; and that light you have, is but common, it is short to what many have attained to, who are now in hell, &c. Satan doth not labour more mightily to persuade hypocrites that their graces are true, when they are counterfeit, than he doth to persuade precious souls that their graces are counterfeit, when indeed they are true, and such as will abide the touchstone of Christ, &c.*-Now the remedies against this device of Satan are these:

Remedy 1. Against this device of Satan, seriously consider, that grace is taken two ways.

* Yet it must be granted, that many a fair flower may grow out of a stinking root, and many sweet dispositions and fair actions may be where there is only the corrupt root of nature.

1. It is taken, for the gracious good will and favour of God, whereby he is pleased of his own free love to accept of sinners in Christ for his own. This grace some call the first grace, because it is the fountain of all other graces, and the spring from whence they flow, and it is therefore called grace, because it makes a man gracious before God; but this is only in God.

2. Grace is taken for the gifts of grace, and they are of two sorts, common or special.

Some are common to believers and hypocrites, as a gift of knowledge, a gift of prayer, &c.

Some are special graces, and they are proper and peculiar to the saints, as faith, humility, meekness, love, patience, &c. Gal. v. 22, 23.

Rem. 2. Wisely consider the differences between renewing grace, and restraining grace; between sanctifying grace, and temporary grace; and this I shall shew you in the following particulars:

1. True grace makes all glorious within and without.* The king's daughter is all glorious within, her raiment is of wrought gold. True grace makes the understanding, the will, and the. affections glorious; it casts a general glory upon all the noble parts of the soul: and as it makes

"God brings not a pair of scales to weigh our graces but a touch-stone to try them. Purity, preciousness, and holiness, are stamped upon all saving graces." Acta xy. 9. 2 Pet. i, 1. Jude 20.

the inside glorious, so it makes the outside glorious; Her clothing is of wrought gold.' It makes men look, walk, and act gloriously, so that vain men shall be forced to say, that these are they that have seen Jesus. As grace is a fire to burn up and consume the dross and filth of the soul, so it is an ornament to beautify and adorn it. True grace makes all new, the inside and the outside new.* If any man be in Christ he is a new creature;' but temporary grace doth not this. True grace changes the very nature of a man; moral virtue only restrains, or chains up the outward man, it doth not change the whole man. A lion in a den, is a lion still; he is restrained, but not changed, for he retains his lion-like nature still: so temporary graces restrain many men from much wickedness, but do not change and turn their hearts from it. But true grace turns a lion into a lamb, as you may see in Paul; Acts ix. a notorious strumpet into a blessed and glorious penitent, as you may see in Mary Magdalene, &c. Luke vii.

2. The objects of true grace are supernatural. True grace is conversant about the choicest and highest objects; the most soul-ennobling, and soul-enriching objects, as God, Christ, precious promises that are of more worth than a world,

*2 Cor. v. 7. «A new creation, new Adam, new covenant, new Paradise, new Lord, new law, new hearts, and new natures together."

and a kingdom that shakes not, a crown of glory that withers not, and heavenly treasures that rust not.* The objects of temporary grace are low and poor, and always within the compass of

reason's reach.

3. True grace enables a Christian, (when he is like himself) to perform spiritual actions with real pleasure and delight. To souls truly gracious, Christ's yoke is easy, and his burden is light; his comandments are not grievous, but joyous.' 'I delight in the law of God after the inward man,' saith Paul. The blessed man is described as a lover of God's word-' He de

lights in the law of the of the Lord.' • It is joy. to the just to do judgment,' saith Solomon. To a gracious soul, All the ways of the Lord are pleasantness, and his paths are peace.' But to souls that have but temporary grace, but moral virtues, religious services are a toil, not a pleasure; a burden, and not a delight: Wherefore have we fasted, (say they,) and thou seest not? Wherefore have we afflicted our souls, and thou takest no knowledge,' Is. Iviii. 3, &c. Ye have said, (say those in Malachi,) it is in vain to serve God, and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinances, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts? Mal. iii. 14. When will the new moon

* 2 Cor. iv. 18. chap. xi. Heb. xv. Prov. 14. A saint hath his feet where other men's heads are. Mat, vi.