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

Then 5. take and put in practice this fifth direction, renew thy faith and repentance, set thy heart awork, to believe and repent afresh as if thou hadst never yet begun. Leave off and cease awhile to reason about the goodness of thy former faith and repentance, and set upon the work of believing and repenting anew; spend not all the time in casting out of anchors, but fall a-pumping. Say, well, suppose I have not hitherto been in the state of grace, yet I am not uncapable of it for time to come, I may obtain grace yet. Suppose my faith and repentance hath not been true hitherto, I will therefore now begin to endeavour after such as is true; and to that end make this use of whatsoever flaws the devil finds in either, to direct thee what to mend and rectify for time to come; begin to make up the breaches and unsoundness which is discovered, endeavour after a supply of all those wants he objects to be in either, to mend all the holes he picks. Say, Lord I cast my self upon thy mercies afresh, I desire now to make my heart perfect with thee for time to come, to part with every sin, to submit to every duty, to curse every by-end to hell, and to set up ⟨p. 34⟩God & Christ as my mark, pole-star, and aim in all; and when thou hast done this, let the devil say his worst. This of all the former directions I commend to you, as a special means to dissolve and put these temptations about assurance to an end. I set a probatum est upon it, take it, practise it, it is a tried one; & it is that which at the last the Church in desertion comes to: Lam. 3. 40. Come let […] try our ways, and turn to the Lord, that is the last way and course she takes. Now when the water is at the lowest, and the tide of assurance ebbed, […] up your banks as you use to do at low waters. Now when nothing but hypocrisy, and unbelief, and falseness of heart appear to thee, to be in thy heart, do thou groan, sigh, endeavour after the contrary sincerity, & let Satan say his worst: & this direction I now in the next place prescribe you, because in time of temptation about assurance, it is the usual course of some troubled souls to spend […] their thoughts upon what formerly they have had, as if they must have comfort only from the former work or no way:

Then 5. take and put in practice this fifth direction, renew thy faith and repentance, set thy heart aworke, to beleeve and repent afresh as if thou hadst never yet begun. Leave off and cease awhile to reason about the goodnesse of thy former faith and repentance, and set upon the worke of beleeving and repenting anew; spend not all the time in casting out of anchors, but fall apumping. Say, well, suppose I have not hitherto beene in the state of grace, yet I am not uncapable of it for time to come, I may obtaine grace yet. Suppose my faith and repentance hath not beene true hitherto, I will therefore now begin to endeavour after such as is true; and to that end make this use of whatsoever flawes the devill findes in either, to direct thee what to mend and rectifie for time to come; begin to make up the breaches and unsoundnesse which is discovered, endeavour after a supply of all those wants hee objects to bee in either, to mend all the holes hee pickes. Say, Lord I cast my selfe upon thy mercies afresh, I desire now to make my heart perfect with thee for time to come, to part with every sinne, to submit to every duty, to curse every by-end to hell, and to set up