A child of light walking in darknessA childe of light vvalking in darknesse

And the reason why such jealousies, ¹and suspicions, &c. (which are such contrary dispositions unto self-flattery which swayed our opinions of our estates before) should thus arise and be started up in the heart upon the work of faith, and be apt rather to prevail now after faith, is; 1 Because that in the work of humiliation, (which prepares for faith) all those strong holds of carnal reason being demolished, which upheld self-flattery, and that false good opinion of a mans estate, and those mountainous thoughts of presumption as then laid low, a man is for ever put out of conceit with himself, as of himself. At which time also, 2 he was so throughly and feelingly convinced of the heinousness ⟨p. 40⟩of sin, (which before he slighted) and of the greatness and multitudes of his sins, that he is apt now (instead of presuming as before) to be jealous of God, lest he might have been so provoked as never to pardon him, and is accordingly apt to draw a misinterpretation of all Gods dealings with him to strengthen that conceit. And 3 having through the same conviction the infinite error and deceitfulness of his heart before, in flattering him and judging his estate good, when it was most accursed, so clearly discovered and discerned; he thereby becomes exceeding jealous, and afraid of erring on that hand still, and so is apt to lend an ear to any doubt or scruple that is suggested. Especially 4 he being withal made apprehensive both of that infinite danger to his eternal salvation there may be in nourishing a false opinion of the goodness of his estate if it should prove otherwise; because such a false conceit keeps a man from saving faith; whereas to cherish the contrary error in judging his estate bad, when it is in truth good, tends but to his present discomfort; so as he thinks it safer to err on that hand then the other. And 5 being also sensible of what transcendent concernment his eternal salvation is of, (which he before slighted) this rouseth suspicion, (which in all matters of great consequence and moment, is always doubting and inquisitive,) and also keeps it waking, which before lay asleep.

And the reason why such jealousies, ¹and suspitions, &c. (which are such contrary dispositions unto selfe-flattery which swayed our opinions of our estates before) should thus arise and bee started up in the heart upon the worke of faith, and be apt rather to prevaile now after faith, is; 1 Because that in the worke of humiliation, (which prepares for faith) all those strong holds of carnall reason being demolisht, which upheld selfe-flattery, and that false good opinion of a mans estate, and those mountainous thoughts of presumption as then laid low, a man is for ever put out of conceit with himself, as of himself. At which time also, 2 he was so throughly and feelingly convinced of the hainousnesse