When I have been laden with sin, and pestered with several
temptations, and in a very sad manner, then have I had the trial of
the virtue of Christ's blood, with trial of the virtue of other
things; and I have found that when tears would not do, prayers would
not do, repentings and all other things could not reach my heart, O
then one touch, one drop, one shining of the virtue of THE BLOOD, of
that blood that was let out with a spear, it hath in such a blessed
manner delivered me, that it hath made me to marvel. O, methinks it
hath come with such life, such power, with such irresistible and
marvellous glory, that it wipes off all the slurs, silences all the
outcries, and quenches all the fiery darts and all the flames of
hell-fire, that are begotten by the charges of the law, Satan, and
doubtful remembrances of my sinful life.
There are three things that do usually afflict the soul that is
earnestly looking after Jesus Christ.
1. Dreadful accusations from Satan. 2. Grievous, defiling, and
infectious thoughts. 3. A strange readiness in our nature to fall in
with both. By the first, of these, the heart is made continually to
tremble. Hence his temptations are compared to the roaring of a
lion. For as the lion by roaring killeth the heart of his prey, so
doth Satan kill the spirit of those that hearken to him; for when he
tempteth, especially by way of accusation, he doth to us as
Rabshakeh did to the Jews; he speaks to us in our own language.
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