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Severall Rests of Creatures Discovered, and laid open, below the Comming of Christ in the Spirit, who is the alone Rest of Saints.
THE first Rest which we shall speak of is, Civility, or a common restraint of the Creature from the committing of grosse evils: looked upon by the par∣ty to be Reformation. This conditi∣on or dispensation, speaks deceivea∣ble Peace to many a spirit; upon the which seeming good, which pretends to follow this state, the creature resteth and is satisfied. But the reason thereof partly flowes from these following grounds.
1. From comparing himself with others: that is looking upon the grosnesse of mens actions abroad in the World: as namely, swearing and drunkennesse, and the height of all prophanes many spirits live in, where they are in the same condion, Drinking up iniquity as if they were drinking up water: and in these particulars hee being restrained, and more civillized then these, he blesseth himself in his present condition, and Rests satisfied with it, as though in it he did enjoy much of God.
2. It flowes from comparing his condition present, with what it was: The more grosser his condition was before, the higher it works him into conceit, with the happines of its present condition. Thus not seeing the