October 10 – “…though you can not perceive the footsteps of the flock, in the way of your affliction, you must not therefore conclude that you are the first that ever traveled that road.”

“Case 8. ‘The AFFLICTIONS I meet with are strange and unusual. I doubt if ever a child of God was tried with such dispensations of providence as I am.’ Answer. Much of what was said on the preceding case, may be helpful in this. Holy Job was assaulted with this temptation, Job 5:1, ‘To which [...]

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October 9 – “To yield to the 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.”

“Case 6. ‘I see myself fall so far short of the saints mentioned in the Scriptures, and of several excellent people of my own acquaintance, that, when I look on them, I can hardly look on myself as one of the same family with them.’ Answer. It is, indeed, matter of humiliation, that we do [...]

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October 8 – “The strength of our affections is to be measured by the firmness and fixedness of the root, not by the violence of their actings.”

“Case 4. “But when I compare my love to God with my love to some created enjoyments, I find the pulse of my affections beat stronger to the creature than to the Creator. How then can I call him Father? Nay, alas! those turnings of heart within me, and glowings of affection to him, which [...]

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October 7 – “Sin is not quite dead in the regenerate soul; it is but dying, and dying a lingering death, being crucified: no wonder there are great fightings, when it is sick at the heart, and death is at the door.”

“Case 3. “I find the motions of sin in my heart more violent since the Lord began his work on my soul, than they were before that time. Can this consist with a change of my nature?” Answer. Dreadful is the case of many, who, after God has had a remarkable dealing with their souls, [...]

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October 6 – “Let not therefore the prevailing of corruption make you, in this case, conclude you are none of God’s children: but let it humble you, to be the more watchful, and to thirst the more intensely after Jesus Christ, his blood and Spirit…”

“Case 2. ‘If I were a new creature, sin could not prevail against me as it does.’ Answer. Though we must not lay pillows for hypocrites to rest their heads upon, who indulge themselves in their sins, and make the doctrine of God’s grace subservient to their lusts, lying down contentedly in the bond of [...]

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October 4 – “If you can perceive the happy change which is wrought on your soul…in vain do you trouble yourself, and refuse comfort, because you know not how and what way it was brought about.”

“But that I may afford some farther help to true Christians in their inquiries into their state, I shall propose and briefly answer some cases or doubts, which may possibly hinder some people from the comfortable view of their happy state…Case 1. ‘I doubt if I be regenerate, because I know not the precise time [...]

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September 12 – “He wills you to study and consult much the death, sufferings and fulness of the satisfaction made by Jesus Christ ; go down into the grave of Christ…”

“But what does the Lord say ? what does the Lord speak from his word in the way of an ordinance, that I who was never yet settled, may attain unto this inward peace and quietude of soul ? 1. He wills you to study and consult much the death, sufferings and fulness of the [...]

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September 11 – “…when God sees that his children fall in love more with the nurse than with himself, then he removes the nurse, and causes their peace to be suspended and interrupted : he will not have the nurse to be loved more than himself.”

“When God is absent from us, then we have testimonies of our love to God, by our desires after him ; and when he is present, then we have testimonies of his love to us, by the shines of his countenance ; so that whether God shines or not, whether we have comfort or not, [...]

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September 10 – “God has two strings to his bow; if your hearts will not lie humble and low under the sense of sin and misery, he will make them lie low under the lack of some desired mercy (assurance).”

“The sixth reason why God denies assurance to his dearest ones, at least for a time, is, that they be kept humble and low in their own eyes; as the enjoyment of mercy (assurance) gladdens us—so the lack of mercy (assurance) humbles us…Surely, it is better to lack any temporal mercy—than a humble heart; it [...]

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September 9 – “None sets such a price upon light, as he who has lain long in a dungeon of darkness. Just so, none sets such a price upon assurance, as those children of light who have walked most in spiritual darkness.”

“A fifth reason why God denies assurance to his children, is, that when they have it, they may the more highly prize it, the more carefully keep it, the more wisely improve it, and the more affectionately and effectually bless God for it. None sets such a price upon light, as he who has lain [...]

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September 8 – “A fourth reason why God denies assurance to his dearest ones, is, because they seek assurance more for themselves—than they do for his honor and glory…”

“A fourth reason why God denies assurance to his dearest ones, is, because they seek assurance more for themselves—than they do for his honor and glory; more that they may have joy without sorrow, comfort without torment, peace without trouble, sweet without bitter, light without darkness, and day without night—than that God may be exalted [...]

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