rather And if you tell the humble Soul that they that Sin against the Holy Ghost never heartily repent of it and no Man in this Life can certainly conclude himself reprobated because for ought any knows he may repent and turn to God He will yet object Object 6. It may be God will be so merciful as to save Sinners that are deeply and kindly humbled for their Sins and full of the Spirit of mourning and 't is Mercy indeed if he will save such But I have an hard heart and an uncontrite Spirit I cannot grieve for Sin to any purpose though I know my self to be one of the chief of Sinners All these and many more such Objections will be unanswerable if the Soul considers only the absolute Mercy of God For God may indeed be merciful and gloriously merciful in saving Sinners though he should only save some of the most restrained and least provoking the soonest yielding and most signally humbled and mourning Sinners and so the Soul that judges worse of himself can have no hope of his Salvation But the Mercy of God in Christ is such as that he freely offers his Salvation to all even the worst of Sinners to whom the Gospel is preached inviting and commanding them to accept it and rely upon him for it And this answers all Objections The worst the Soul can say against himself exempts him not from the number of Sinners and Salvation is freely offered to all Sinners in general He is one of them let him make as bad of himself as he can And though he thinks it never so unreasonable for him to hope for Mercy yet no reason in the World can have any force against the Command of the most High God which requires him to repose his hope and trust in Christ for his Salvation Thus 't is evident that the ground of a Christian's hope or that which he relies and rests upon in his hope of Salvation is the free Mercy of God in Christ And therefore is Faith commonly in Scripture called a trusting or believing in Jesus Christ because the Satisfaction which he has given to the Law and the free tender of Salvation which he makes in the Gospel to Sinners in general is the only sufficient ground that any Soul has to stay and rest upon in hope of his Salvation John 3.15 16 18 36. John 6.35 1 Pet. 2.6 Acts 11.17 Acts 16.31 and many other places Faith is a believing in God But 't is a believing on him looked upon and considered as he is in Jesus Christ The Soul cannot believe or trust in God for Salvation but as he trusts in Christ 1 Pet. 1.21 Who by him believe on God who raised him from the dead c. It is a trusting or hoping in the Mercy of God Psalm 15.5 Psalm 147.11 But 't is a trusting in Mercy only as 't is expressed displayed and offered to Sinners in Jesus Christ It is a trusting or hoping in the Word Psalm 119.42 74. in as much as it declares and propounds that Mercy of God in Christ on which alone the Soul may rest it self in hopes of Salvation Thus have we seen the Sinner brought by the several Steps of Consideration Conviction Humiliation c. to a fiducial Faith or believing on Jesus Christ And now is he in the state of Effectual Calling or Conversion 1 Thess 2.13 Then Men are called and converted when they believe in Jesus Christ as 't is fully proved in Rom. 1.16 with 1 Cor. 1.24 Now is the Soul set safe from Condemnation and therefore is this Faith called Justifying Faith Rom. 5.1 Now is the Soul adopted and entitled to everlasting Life And therefore is Faith called saving Faith or believing to Salvation Heb. 10. Yea now the Soul is by the work of the Spirit possessed of all Graces necessary to qualify and prepare him for Heaven the heart being purified by Faith Acts 15.9 and taken up by the Lord Jesus for his Habitation Ephes 2.22 with Ephes 2.17 where-ever there is Faith in Christ there is also Love to God Obedience Patience Humility Self-denial and all other Graces in which the Law is written on renewed Hearts The Exercises and Encreases whereof come next to be considered The Sum of all is 1. The Sinner takes the estate of his Soul into serious Consideration Ezek. 18.28 He considereth and turneth away from his Transgression 2. He finds himself to be in a lost and perishing Condition Luke 15.17 I perish for hunger 3. The sight of himself in this estate affects his Soul with deep Sorrow and distressing Trouble Acts 2.37 When they heard this they were pierced at the heart 4. This distress puts him upon a studious consultation and enquiry for a Remedy of his Estate And they said Men and Brethren what shall we do 5. Upon this enquiry God directs him to a serious and heedful attention to the Gospel Acts 11.14 Send for Peter he shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy House shall be saved And Acts 10.33 We are all c. 6. Thus attending the Gospel he comes to understand and believe the Doctrine therein contained and to receive it for certain truth upon God's Testimony Acts 2.41 They that gladly received his word were baptized John 6.45 They shall be all taught of God Every one therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh to me 7. Upon the belief of the Doctrine of the Gospel he proceeds to an hearty reliance on the free Mercy of God in Christ in hope of his Salvation For Gal. 2.16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but by the Faith of Christ Even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by the Faith of Christ 1. Believing the Gospel he is informed of the excellency of Christ's Salvation and so desires it earnestly for himself 2. Believing the Gospel he sees this Salvation is freely offered to Sinners in general and so conceives hope that he may have it 3. Believing the Gospel he sees that Salvation is procured and granted only through the Mercy of God in Christ and therefore he rests only upon that Mercy in hope of his Salvation PART II. Of the Progress of a Believer from his Conversion to his Perfection under the work of Sanctification 1 PETER II. 2. As new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby THE Text is an Exhortation to an earnest desire after the Word Where note first 1. The Persons exhorted they are lately converted Christians compared to new-born Babes so young and incompleat Christians are called 1 Cor. 3.1 And I brethren could not speak unto you as unto spiritual but as unto carnal even as unto babes in Christ Babes in Christ because the work of Sanctification had gone on but a little way in them they being hitherto very Carnal 2. The matter of the Exhortation a desire after the Word Where note First First The object of this desire
concernment of every one that thinks he stands 1 Cor. 10 12. to take heed lest he fall That your grounds may be good and safe take a few Directions Direct 1. Be very careful to acquaint your selves with the Word of God 'T is the Glass in which you may see your own faces and what manner of persons ye are James 1.24 2dly Watch narrowly over your hearts and lives that you may know what is your general aim and intendment wherein you exercise your selves as Paul Acts 24.16 Herein do I exercise my self c. For a Christian is to try himself by his main purpose and design as the Apostle Paul 2 Cor. 1.12 Our rejoycing is this the testimony of our conscience 3dly Rest not upon other mens judgments of you Gal. 6.4 Let every man prove his own work the work that is wrought by him of what sort it is and so the work of Grace which is by himself or others thought to be wrought in him 4. Think not to confirm your Assurance by changing modes and ways of Christianity Neither in this mountain nor yet at Jerusalem shall ye worship the Father John 4.21 In this Mountain there was their Forefathers Example leading them to Mount Gerezim c. But ye that is the Jews plead Solomon's building and God's blessing the Temple at Jerusalem Some have tried this way of changing forms and been quieted a little while but their doubts have returned and must needs for any help that can be that way gotten Evidences of Salvation are internal and standing things abiding 5thly Slight not any hopeful Evidence because you yet find some doubts Paul blessed God that with his mind he served the law of Christ though with the flesh the law of sin Rom. 7. last Assurance is always imperfect and this first work is always needful as I shall shew if God will in the next Step. 6thly Wait always on God by Prayer for information concerning your own estate See Psalm 139.1 2 and 23d Verses Search me O God and know my heart try me and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting MATTH XIII 44. The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field The which when a man hath found he hideth and for joy thereof goeth and selleth that he hath and buyeth that field THE second Period or degree of a Believer's motion towards his Perfection may be described by rejoycing in Christ as that which is most signal and remarkable in Believers of some little standing after they have a-while conflicted with Fears and Doubts and taken some solicitous pains to assure themselves that they are in a state of grace By this time it is usual with God to give them peace and persuade them of his special love Some Sermon or other he imploys on purpose to disperse their darkness Some Promise or other he so interprets and applies to them as to make it look them in the face and speak comfort to them Sometimes it comes in return to some earnest prayer that they have lately made for it Sometimes when they are sadly pondering their doubts and almost overwhelmed with sorrows But usually when they have little expectation of it then they hear the voice of peace and receive intimation of the love of God and this highly rejoyces and chears up their hearts As our Saviour's words which I have read imply The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field the which when a man hath found he hideth and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath By the Kingdom of Heaven I understand the Salvation of God in Jesus Christ the perfection whereof is that it crowns men with a Kingly Heavenly and Eternal Glory This Salvation our Saviour here compares to hidden Treasure because as it is of infinite value and excellency so it is unseen by men till their eyes are opened by the Gospel and they are brought by Faith to Jesus Christ and made to believe in him 2 Cor. 4.4 In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them Then when a man believes he finds the Treasure Jesus Christ is found by faith Isa 65.1 To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed Christ is the arm of the Lord and when he is revealed he is found and he that finds him findeth life Prov. 8.35 and when the Soul has thus found Salvation his great care is to secure it to himself that he may be sure of it and not fail to obtain it which I take to be here intimated by hiding of the Treasure when 't is found For in such a case a man's way to ascertain himself of the attainment of what he has found is to make it as sure as he can from other hands that he may not miss of it and having so done he rejoices in the hope of having it to himself which signifies that joy whereof I am now speaking viz. The joy of a Believer under persuasion that he is in a state of salvation The same joy is that reported of the Samaritans Acts 8.8 There was great joy in that city And Verse the 39th it 's said The Eunuch went on his way rejoycing And that in Acts 16.34 He rejoyced believing with all his heart And Rom. 5.1 2. We rejoyce in hope of the glory of God Some Instances of this Joy in Christians upon their first assurance of Salvation after their coming to Christ by faith I shall now shew you And the first Instance is Inst 1. A very thankful remembrance of the means by which they have been awakened and persuaded to return to God Though many Christians are unable to give a particular account of the first time and means of their Conversion yet ordinarily they remember by what means they have been more remarkably stirred up and moved to enquire after God and seek peace with him and are very thankful to God for it And so you shall hear them blessing God for such or such a Sermon or such a man's Ministry whereby it pleased God to set them a moving toward himself O that was a proper word for my case I thought the word was chosen and the Sermon studied on purpose for me it came home so closely to me discovering my sin shewing me what was my confidence and how I deluded my self in it what was my danger and how near I was to it I little thought to have been so fully met withal so clearly to have seen my own face in the glass of the Law to have returned so convinced so affrighted c. I used to hear for others and to observe how they were met with and concerned in what was said But now it pleased God to give me my Portion and send me home with my own Burthen and blessed be his Grace that so and so
seasonably found me out I thought I had been armed sufficiently and could have endured the force of a Sermon as easily as any man in the Congregation and have born up my face undauntedly against all Rebukes and Threatnings but the Word was too strong for me and brought me down upon my Knees and blessed be God that it did so blessed be God that prepared it so sharpened it so timed it and so followed it with powerful motions of his Spirit that I could never acquit my self of it till I was perswaded to return and yield my self up to God Secondly 2dly Their thankful acknowledgement of the goodness of God to them in that they died not in their former Estate As Hezekiah when he was recovered of his Sickness and found himself well again wrote a Memorial of the goodness of God to him in his Restitution wherein he recorded the danger he had been in and how near he was to Death and what a narrow escape he had Isaiah 38.9 So Christians when once they apprehend themselves passed from Death to Life are even afraid to think what an Estate they were in before and mightily taken with the Mercy of God that suffered them not to perish in that Condition I was in love with my own perverse way when I was running headlong to Destruction I thought my self safe enough when I was even in the midst of all Evil I trusted to my own Works when I was working out my Damnation Prov. 5.14 I was almost in all evil I despised reproof and hearkned not to the voice of my Teachers and if the Lord had then taken me off by Death I had certainly perished O! blessed be God that had pity on me when I had no care of my self and awakened me when I was sleeping the Sleep of Death Thus Paul I was a persecutor a blasphemer and injurious but I obtained mercy c. Now to the King eternal the only wise God be honour and glory for ever and ever 1 Tim. 1.13 So all the followers of the Lamb the Lord Jesus are said to sing the Song of Moses Rev. 15.3 Blessing God that suffered them not to dye under Egyptian Bondage or perish in the Red-Sea 3dly Their readiness to tell others what God has done for their Souls Christians are hardly ever so communicative of their experiences as about this Age. As Children when first they get use of their Tongues are most apt to talk Thus Christians when they have newly got the sense of saving love are often saying with David Come and hear ye that fear God and I will declare what he hath done for my Soul Psalm 66.16 I was perishing unawares and he shewed me my danger and then I thought I must needs perish without remedy I walked up and down trembling like Cain and could neither eat nor drink lye down nor rise in peace All was black and dark about me Every word of God seemed to be against me and the Wrath of God was always ready as I thought to swallow me up till such a Word came and such a Promise was set home to my heart And them my Fears vanished and my Soul was quieted my Mourning turned into Joy c. Never was a poor fainting Soul so revived O taste and see that the Lord is grocious he belivered my soul from death my eyes from tears my feet from falling Psalm 116.8 4thly Their great contentedness under outward Troubles because God has spoken peace to their Souls Though they be poor it may be and low in the World and meet with many Enemies though they are reproached by their Neighbours and their old Companions and suffer the displeasure of their Friends for betaking themselves to a new course of Life yea though they are watcht and kept in and are fain to make hard shift to get out to Ordinances and into Christian Communion yet all is easy to them and they bear it patiently because God has manifested himself to their Souls and given them good hopes through Grace of everlasting Glory Now let Friends reject them Father and Mother forsake them since God has taken them up Their acquaintance disown them but God owns them the World frowns upon them but Heaven smiles They are in danger to suffer loss of all but they have found Christ and won Christ and 't is enough they rejoyce in their Portion Fifthly 5thly The sweet Savour which they find in the Gospel and the word of promise Joy sweetens our Meat and Drink to us and makes us relish what is set before us So Christians in this Estate are strangely taken with spiritual Promises and find a sweetness in them which they never perceived before so that they wonder at themselves to think how many times they have read and heard such a Portion of the Word and never understood it never found any relish in it But now they cry out O what a good Word is this Oh delicacies of our Father's House What Nourishment what Cordials are in his Evangelical Provisions This is bread from Heaven Angels food indeed What a Table is here spread What a Cup is here filled The Word of God is quite another thing to such a Soul from what it was before Sixthly 6thly Their affectionate Thoughts of God and Christ as David expresses himself in Psalm 116.1 I love the Lord because he hath heard my voice and my supplications So Christians raised up out of their Sorrows Terrors and Despairs highly admire and love Jesus Christ in whom they have now believed as the Apostle Peter speaks in his first Epistle Chap. 2. Verse 7. To you that believe he is precious Though they were yet but as new-born Babes Now let me give you a few Reasons First Reas 1. No marvel that Christians are so much rejoiced upon the first receit of such Assurance because it is usually the fruit of much studious Pains and Labour many Prayers much waiting and many strict Examinations of themselves That is naturally pleasant which is hardly attained They that sow in tears reap in joy Psalm 126.5 Secondly Reas 2. It has in it the beginning of Heaven 1 Pet. 1.9 Receiving the end of your faith even the salvation of your souls Believers now receive the beginning of that Salvation which is the end of their Faith Salvation is the intended end of Faith that which Faith is always seeking and aiming at that which Faith seeks and waits for and it is the end of the Faith of Christians as that in which it ceases as believing and is turned into Vision So Faith of Assurance is a very joyous thing Thirdly Reas 3. They commonly think their doubts and fears now gone for all they think they shall despair no more distrust God no more As David Psalm 30.6 said I shall not be moved But this third Reason has a mistake in it as it ordinarily proves of which I shall speak afterward Fourthly Reas 4. God gives this comfort to facilitate his Peoples way to Heaven If
newness of the way of Christianity to them is very much a cause of their pleasure in it They take up Duty in obedience to God and love it for its goodness and so far Grace acts them and works in them But besides there is a natural pleasure which they take in it as a new course of life to which they have not been used And this serves for a while to hold them up to a great deal of forwardness and activity which afterwards wears off with its cause and leaves but so much activity behind as there is Grace in the Soul to produce and maintain it This sometimes makes Christians seem to others to have been but Hypocrites in their former diligence in Christianity because they are now more remiss and commonly themselves at some time or other are brought to suspect that they have no saving Grace in them at all because as they think they are grown worse whereas indeed there is but an accidental Motive fallen off which makes the Motion slower than it was though the true and proper Principle remains As if a Man pulls a Clock or Jack by the Line when 't is going it goes apace but when he withdraws his hand it goes more slowly and yet it goes as fast as the proper weight made it go before and is not grown a worse Clock or Jack but only the Hand-help is withdrawn This newness is it which causes that first love which the Ephesians are blamed for leaving Rev. 2.4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love Now this some take to be the zeal and forwardness of Christianity for the newness of it But some may object and say Object This may seem to be no fault in the Ephesians and not reprovable in them 't is no fault to leave it I answer Answ 'T is Sin in others as in them when we do not love Duty still in as high degree for Christ's sake when such accidental motions fall off as when they are at the highest as a School-boy should love his Book when 't is old as when it was fresh and new so perhaps new Converts loved Christianity better at first than afterward but it 's their fault Thus far have I been speaking concerning Christians that are hopefully and comfortably in a state of salvation I now proceed to the reason of this why Christians that are comfortably assured of their safe estate do give up themselves to the practice of godliness why they are so active and forward in the Duties of Religion First 1 R. Christians comfortably assured of their Justification or Interest in Jesus Christ do therefore heartily give up themselves to the service of Righteousness because they love God and this is the proper exercise of their love The grace of love to God is implanted in their Souls in their first Conversion when as yet they have no clear assurance of their salvation but when they come to a comfortable perswasion that they are in a state of grace they love God because he has first loved them see Psal 116.1 I love the Lord because he hath heard my voice And in 1 Joh. 4.19 We love him because he first loved us Secondly 2 R. The trouble and torments which their Sin has brought upon them makes them gladly betake themselves to a course of Holiness in hope to be at ease Psal 25.12 13. What man is he that feareth the Lord him shall he teach in the way that he shall chuse His soul shall dwell at ease c. Obedience seems to flesh and blood a very hard and wearisom course of life and therefore it pleases God so to order it that men should return to him wearied with the troubles and vexatious fears and despairs which attend on Sin that they may be the more willing to give up themselves to Holiness and Obedience 3 R. Thirdly They know it is the way to their compleat happiness Tho Heaven be not merited by Holiness yet 't is not to be obtained without it as Heb. 12.14 Without holiness no man shall see the Lord. It 's a usual saying of Divines That Holiness does not merit Heaven but it is the way to it and this Christians understanding are more willing and forward in the practice of Holiness I come now to the Uses Use 1. This confutes the usual Objection against the Doctrine of Assurance of Salvation that it leads to the neglect of duty for say they that deny Assurance attainable If once men be persuaded that they are in a state of Salvation and shall be saved they will presently think it needless to take more pains about their Salvation But we have seen that a comfortable persuasion of their being in a safe Estate is an effectual argument to duty and Christians never set so couragiously and resolvedly upon the practice of Godliness as when they have attained a good assurance of their Salvation Use 2. This Doctrine which I have been propounding to you may convince men of their Self-deceit who neglect duty and take liberty to sin because they hope to be saved It 's a false Opinion of an interest in God that stands with the neglect of his Commands especially when 't is the ground and argument of that neglect I am God alsufficient walk before me and be perfect Gen. 15. So God indents with them whom he receives for his people and they consent with him You that live beside the known Rules of Christianity without any stated worship of God in your Families without the Exercise of Secret Prayer and meditations in your Chambers and Closets you that ordinarily profane the Sabbath and lay it common to your worldly Uses that are ordinarily guilty of swearing lying defrauding and injuring your Neighbours that are intemperate in eating and drinking c. and you that so clearly know your sin that you use your art and skill to hide it from the eyes of men Do you not know that the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against such unrighteousness of men Yea but possibly some may say We have believed in Jesus Christ and are justified through his Blood and hope to be saved as well as those that live the strictest lives Certainly your hopes deceive you and you are in a perishing estate For the knowledge of being in a state of Grace will make them apply themselves to the practice of Godliness being made free from sin ye became the servants of righteousness Such is the case of those that encourage themselves in the Examples of Noah and David Fore-fathers or of men reputed godly Use 3. It helps much to confirm Christians in their hopes of Salvation who find themselves moved and excited to Obedience 't is a sign your Persuasion is rightly grounded And thus much for this third Step of Converts toward their Salvation A resolved setling upon a course of Christian Practice 2 COR. V. 1. Having therefore these promises dearly beloved let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of
of the Religion they have profest and of the Ordinances on which they have attended and the People of God with whom they have conversed and this fear is a great Affliction to them though it be a good sign of sincerity 6thly Sometimes they tremble in the fear of some dreadful Judgment or sore Rebuke from God to fall upon them They think God will not long bear with such sinful Wretches Persons so proud so sensual so hypocritical but some way or other providentially manifest his displeasure against them if they be graceless they know God is angry with the wicked every day And if he intends good to them they look he should take some severe Course with them therefore David prays Lord rebuke me not in thy wrath c. Psalm 38.1 They find their hearts so lazy and themselves so formal and hypocritical they think sure God will deal severely with them in their Persons and Families c. 7thly They are often afflicted with the fear of perishing eternally That this fear was rising in the heart of the Apostle himself when he spoke these words may very probably be collected from what follows Chap. 8.1 where he seems to encourage himself against the danger of its Death and the means which he professes himself to use for prevention of that danger There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit And in 1 Cor. 9.27 I keep under my body and bring it into subjection lest that by any means when I have preached to others I my self should be a cast-away Which shews that he was not altogether above the fear of it And indeed this must needs be a sore trouble to them that have tasted of the Wrath of God in their former Convictions and have had the sense of his Love shed abroad in their hearts and have been comforted in the hope of Glory Neither Judas nor Cain ever felt such horror and astonishment under their despairs as a sincere Christian in this case of fears would fall into if he were not upheld by a secret power of Grace For alas they never knew so much of the Love and Goodness of God as the weakest of sincere Christians knows nor ever had such desires and hopes to enjoy him I come now to some Causes of these great Troubles in sincere Christians about Sin within 1. The first Cause is The awakened activity of Sin and Satan being effectually disturbed by the Spirit of Mortification When the strong Man keeps the House all things are at peace Luke 11.21 i. e. till the stronger the Lord Jesus enters and begins to take away his Goods and his Harness Then Satan bestirs himself and raises all the force of sordid Lusts and Corruptions which lay much more still before if Sin had been so active before the Sinner would have proceeded to the very acting of the Sin which now it doth but reach at being checked and held back by Grace which makes him say in himself how shall I do this great wickedness But now as things are ordered by the blessed Work of God there is a principle of Grace that forbids and hinders the acting of those Sins to which corrupted Nature is disposed And that conflict makes a great unquietness in the Soul and so gives a Christian much more notice of the wickedness of his heart than ever he had and hence arise those Troubles Distresses and Fears which I have spoken of there being so much ado to hold in the wickedness that would be breaking out and to repress the inward Motions of it As when Physick is admitted into the Stomach ill Humours are rouzed and that causes hard Gripes sick Qualms and sad Complaints These are ultimi conatus moribundi peccati the last Struglings of dying Sin First Cause 1. It 's the subtilty of Satan 1. To sollicite some Men less to outward Acts of Sin while unconverted because he sees and observes 't is usual with God to make their great and gross wickedness occasional to their Conviction and Conversion according to that in Matth. 21.31 Publicans and harlots go into the kingdom of God before you And therefore having hold on Men in a natural Estate he is not so zealous to excite them to Sin lest he should over-do and suffer loss Therefore I say he solicites some less for there are whom he drives on to much outragious Wickedness as the Publicans and Harlots 2dly To stir up Men converted as much as he can to Sin that he may make Apostates of them If they be not sincere which he knows not or make them shame their Profession by gross Acts of Wickedness or at least cause them to go on with the more trouble and discomfort 3dly It is the nature of contraries to be excited by the Opposition of their contraries as we see in Nature it self Water thrown upon the Smith's Coals makes them burn the more fiercely and so in Meteors Philosophers tell us That the cold Cloud gathering about an hot Vapour makes the Heat gather it self together and so it fires and thence comes the Lightning and the Thunder Thus Grace in the Soul pressing hard upon Corruption makes it more vehement in its strugling to preserve it self Thus 't is no wonder though Christians striving against Sin think it grows upon them because it is indeed more active and stirring than ever though not more in the Habit or Principle They have more evil desires and reachings and wishings toward Sin and thinkings and ruminations upon it than ever Sin that was always in them is more sinning in them Lust is more drawing aside and enticing and in conceiving as James 1.14 15. than ever it was Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed When Lust hath conceived it brings forth Sin and Sin when it is finished bringeth forth Death though the body of Sin it self was as much and more in the Soul And hence come all the forementioned Troubles the former Apprehensions which the Soul had of its peace with God being for a time eclipsed by these sad appearances Cause 2. They see Sin more clearly than they did before The Spirit of Grace is a Spirit of Light in the understanding by which they see the evil and sinfulness of all those within-door workings of Corruption which they scarce found any fault withal before and take notice of those stirrings of Sin which they did not mind before and so Sin being indeed more active than it was and they having better Eyes to see it no marvel that these think it much grown and be otherwise much troubled at it as Paul says I see another law rebelling and warring c. 3dly They have a greater dislike of Sin As understanding more of the evil nature of it and the worse apprehension they have of it the more they are troubled and disheartened at the sight of it If you see a company of Men coming