Some general directions for a comfortable walking with God delivered in the lecture at…Some generall directions for a comfortable walking with God deliuered in the lecture at…

Austin was clearly of this mind, that a man may be acquainted with the sincerity of his faith. ^*There is, saith he, a kind of glorying in the conscience, when thou knowest thy faith is sincere, thy hope certain, thy love without dissembling.

Austin was cleerely of this mind, that a man may be acquainted with the sincerity of his faith. ^*There is, saith he, a kind of glorying in the conscience, when thou knowest thy faith is sincere, thy hope certaine, thy loue without dissembling.

1. *Est quidam modus in conscientia gloriandi, ut noveris fidem tuam esse sinceram, noveris esse spemtuam certam, noveris charitatem tuam esse sine dissimulatione. In Psal. 149.Est quidam modus in conscientia gloriandi, vt noueris fidem tuam esse sinceram, noueris esse spemtuam certam, noueris charitatem tuam esse sine dissimulatione. In Psal. 149.

But many, say they, believe, and are deceived; thinking they have that which they have not; How then can a man be certain?

But many, say they, beleeue, and are deceiued; thinking they haue that which they haue not; How then can a man be certaine?

Answer. So thousands amongst us, by the false spectacles of presumption, making the bridge of Gods mercy broader then it is, and larger then his truth, which confines it only to broken hearts; are woefully deluded, and ready every moment to be drowned in the dungeon of fire and brimstone: must therefore those few who are sincerely humbled for their sins, truly believe, and upon good ground have part in it, be also deceived? Because mad men, and men asleep, know not well that they are asleep, and rage; must therefore men truly waking, and wise, not know certainly they are awake, and in their wits? The common people generally conceive of the Suns magnitude, that it is not past a foot round; must therefore the certainty of knowledge, that it is many times bigger then the Earth, be denied to the skilful Astronomer? Some men dream that they are rich, tumble themselves amongst their golden heaps, and it is not so indeed when they awake; doth no man therefore certainly know whether he be rich or no?