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EXAMINATIONS OF PERSONS UNDER SPIRITUAL CONCERN II
135
mention name them all, as it does not. One Temptation with which I was
sorely assaulted, tho but for a short time, was, That I was not Elected: but
while I was tossed [306/-] with these thoughts, that word struck into my
mind suddenly. Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out: upon
which I was made to believe, that Christ was willing to rescue all that came
to him, in his own appointed way, be who they would: & this brake the force
of this Temptation.
There was another Temptation that was one of the most dreadful & afflicting
of any that ever I laboured under: and that was to Downright Atheism, or
to think there was no God. It was urg’d upon me with great violence for
about three or four days. That there was no God: tho I argued against the
Temptation from the works of Creation & Providence, & tho I rejected it
with detestation, yet it was still born in upon me. But tho’ I could not get
rid of it; yet the Lord was pleased to give me great comfort and joy, while
he enabled me to resist it & his Glory, his Wisdom Power & Goodness &
other perfections appeard Shining in every thing about me. And these two
passages of Scripture, were then cast into my mind with much power, Mic.
6. [307/-] I will wait for the God of my Salvation, my God will hear me.
Rejoice not against me, O mine Enemy, when I fall I shall arise, when I sit in
darkness the Lord shall be a Light unto me. I will bear the indignation of the
Lord because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause and execute
judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the Light & I shall behold his
righteousness.10 And these words of our Lord to Thomas, Be not faithless
but beheving.11 These two Passages of Scripture came to me with that power
that this Temptation with which I was afflicted immediatly vanished, & I was
never troubled with it since that time to this [Nov. 15.1743.].
When the Sacrament-Occasion in the Parish where I livd drew near, I was
much tossed between a sense of Duty & a desire to obey that Command of
Christ on the one hand, Do this in remembrance of me,12 & on the other
hand, fears that if I should come to the Lords Table, I would afterwards
backshde & prove a Scandal & reproach to Religion: but these words coming
into my mind,
[308/-] Wilt thou not who from death me sav’d
My feet from falls keep free.13
I was made to hope that God who had done so much for me, would preserve
me from falling away, and so was encouraged to resolve to come to his Holy
10 Mic 7:7-9.
11 Jn 20:27.
12 Lk 22:19,1 Co 11:24, 1 Co 11:25.
13 Ps 55:13, Scottish Psalter (metrical).

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