The Soul's Conflict with Itself

We have no ground (at first) to trou• ¹our selves about Gods election. Se• things belong to God; Gods reeled will is, That all that believe in •ist shall not perish. It is my duty ²•refore knowing this, to believe, by •ing whereof, I put that question, •ther God be mine or no? out of all •estion; for all that believe in Christ, […] Christs, and all that are Christs are […]. It is not my duty to look to Gods secret counsel, but to his open offer, in•ation, and command, and thereupon to adventure my soul. And this adventure ⟨p. 409⟩of faith will bring at length a rich return unto us. In war men will adventure their lives, because they think ³some will escape, and why not they? In traffic beyond the Seas many adventure great estates, because some grow rich by a good return, though many miscarry. The husbandman adventures his seed, though sometime the year proves so bad, that he never sees it more. And shall not we make a spiritual adventure in casting our selves upon God, when we have so good a warrant as his command, and so good an encouragement as his promise, that he will not fail those that rely on him? God bids us draw near to him, and he will draw near to us. Whilst we in Gods own ways draw near to him, and labour to entertain good thoughts of him, he will delight to show himself favourably unto us. Whilst we are striving against an unbelieving heart, he will come in and help us, and so fresh light will come in.

We have no ground (at first) to trou• ¹our selves about Gods election. Se things belong to God; Gods reled will is, That all that beleeve in ist shall not perish. It is my duty