draws, and this cheer is taken off, Satan's work is, how lie may deface and wear off the remembrance of this testimony, wliich the soul so trimnphs in for its spiritual standing, that he may not ha\T it as an evidence when he shall bring about the suit again, and put the soul to produce his writings for his spiritual state, or renounce his claim. It behoves thee, therefore, to lay them up safely : such a testimony may serve to Uion-suit thy accuser many years hence : one affirmative from God's mouth for thy pardoned state carries more weight, though of old date, than a thousand negatives from Satan's. ' David's songs of old ' spring in with a light to his soul in his midnight sorrows.
Quest. But what counsel would you give me, saith the distressed sold, who cannot fasten on my former comforts, nor dare to avouch those evidences, which once I thought true ? I find indeed there have been some treaties of old be- tween God and my soul ; some hopes I have had, but these are now so defaced and interlined with backslidings, repentances and falls again, that now I question all my evidences, whether true or counterfeit : what shall one in this case do?
Ans. First, Renew thy repentance, as if thou hadst never repented. Put forth fresh acts of faith, as if thou hadst never believed. This, seriously done, will stop Satan's mouth with an unexpected answer. Let him object against thy foniier actings as hypocritical, what can he say against thy present repenting and be- lieving, which, if true, sets thee bej'ond his shot? It will be harder for Satan to disprove the present workings of God's gracious Spirit, whilst the impressions thereof are fresh, than to pick a hole in thy old deeds and evidences. Acts are transient ; and as wicked men look at sins committed many years since, as little or none, by reason of that breadth of time which interposeth, so the Christian upon the same account stands at great disadvantage, to take the true aspect of those acts of grace which so long ago passed between God and him, though sometimes even these are of great use. As God can make a sinner possess the sins of his youth, as if they were newly acted, to his terror in his old age, so God can present the comforts and evidences which of old the saint received, with those very thoughts he had then of them, as if they were fresh and new.
And therefore. Secondly, If he haunts thee with fears of thy spiritual estate, ply thee to the throne of gi-ace, and beg a new copy of thy old evidence, which thou hast lost. The original is in the pardon office in heaven, whereof Christ is master; if thou art a saint, thy name is upon record in that court; make thy moan to God, hear what news from heaven, rather than listen to the tales which are brought by thine enemy from hell. Did such reason less with Satan, and pray over their fears more to God, they might sooner be resolved. Can you expect truth from a liar, and comfort from an enemy ? Did he ever pro- phesy well of believers ? Was not Job the devil's hypocrite, whom God vouched for a nonsuch in holiness, and proved him so at last? If he knew that thou wert a saint, would he tell thee so? If an hypocrite, he would be as loth thou shouldst know it ; turn thy back therefore on him, and go to thy God: fear not, but sooner or later he will give his hand again to thy certificate. But look thou dost not pass rashly a censure on thyself, because a satisfactory answer is not presently sent at thy desire ; the messenger may stay long, and bring good news at last.
Thirdly, Shun battle with thine enemy till thou art in a fitter posture ; and that thou mayest draw into thy trenches, and make an honourable retreat into those fastnesses and strengths, which Chi-ist hath provided for his sick and wounded soldiers. Now there are two places of advantage into which deserted souls may retire ; the name of God, and the absolute promises of the gospel ; these I may call the fair havens, which are then chiefly of use when the storm is so great, that the ship cannot live at sea. O, saith Satan, dost thou hope to see God? None but the pure in heart shall be blest with tliat vision. Thinkest thou to have comfort? That is the jjortion of the mourners in spirit. Now, soul, though thou canst not say, in the hurry of temptation, thou art the pure and the mourner in spirit, yet then say thou believest God is able to work these in thee, yea, hath promised such a mercy to poor sinners ; it is his covenant, (he will give a new heart, a clean heart, a soft heart,) and there I wait, knowing, as there was nothing in the creature to move the great God to make such promises,
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