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Well saith the fainting, misgi∣ving soul, you have holpe me over this stumbling block touching my election, I see I have no just ground to question that no more; no nor yet so much as that woman of Canaan had, Mat. 15. 24, 26. so that I am gotten over that stum∣bling block, and have for a few weeks had a little peace and comfort, and
me thought my soule began steadily to rest upon the mercy of God through the merits of Christ; and whiles I was thus solacing my selfe, behold another stum∣bling block was cast in my way, viz. That I am not one of Gods children, neither doe I belong to him, because I have fearfull thoughts suggested un∣to me, as to blaspheme God, his Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, and to make away my selfe, or to kill some other body.
Answ. This temptation is no other, then what is common to man; nay, the best of men have had their share in these and the like things: see Heb. 4. 15. the Lord Jesus Christ himselfe was not free from temptations, for the text saith, We have not a high priest, which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sinne, Mat. 4. 6, 9. Job had the same temptations upon him, Job 7. 15. So that my soul chooseth strangling and death rather the•…•… life. Now strangling was one of those punishments used amongst the Jewes, for the punishment of Capitall offenders, such as struck Father or Mother, or that prophesied in the name
of an Idoll, and such as committed folly with a Priests daughter, &c. and when the Romans overcame the Jewes, they brought in Crucifying in stead of it. In a word, there is no ground for any man or woman to thinke they are not Gods children, nor belong to him, be∣cause he permitteth the Devill thus to tempt and trouble them: 2 Cor. 12. 7. Paul had the messenger of Satan to busset him. Luke 22. 31. Satan doth sift the best as well as the least Christians, I say he doth sift them as wheat. James 1. 12. Blessed is the Man that endureth temptation, for when he is tryed he shall receive the crown of life. And that the Lords own beloved ones have been in all ages thus troubled with inward and outward temptations, it will yet further appear if you read these insuing Scriptures, 1 Cor. 10. 13. & Gen. 3. 15. Rom. 16. 20. Revel. 2. 10. Eph. 6. 12. Revel. 12. 17. Luke 4. 13. & Isa. 50. 10. Psal. 88. through∣out. Psal. 6. 3. Prov. 3. 11, 12. & Heb. 12. 6, 7, 8. Revel. 3. 19. The dearest Saints and servants of God may be buffeted and sifted with such sad temptations and horrid thoughts against God the Fa∣ther, Sonne or holy Ghost, blasphemous
thoughts arising in our hearts, yet not consented to by us, but rather abhor∣red, these are the Devils sinnes, not our sinnes, they be our sorrowes, afflicti∣ons, and miseries, but not our sinnes: an upright heart is no more guilty of them, then Benjamin of Josephs cup, put into his sack: fearfull thoughts not consented to by us, are not our sins, but the Devils, and Satan must answer for that himself.