The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

¹First, Though thou canst not say thy condition is good, yet do not say that thy condition is bad. Though thou canst not affirm thou hast the faith of Evidence, yet do not peremptorily say, thou hast not the faith of Adherence; though thou hast not the witness of the spirit for thee, yet do not bear false witness against thy self; canst not thou say thou art sure of Heaven, yet do not say there is no hope of Heaven; though thou canst not own Heaven as thine, do not disown it; if thou canst not prove it, do not disclaim it. It is strange yet ordinary to see many doubting Christians dispute against themselves, and reason against their own comfort; tell them of their longing after Christ, their weeping and mourning for him, they doubt it is not in truth: if you say to them, if you do not truly love him, then let him alone, and follow no more after him; why do you grieve for him because you cannot find him, if you do not truly love him? they will reply, conscience will put a man on to do something, when yet it may not be done out of love to God; if you ask, can you take up with any thing short of Christ, though indeed they cannot, yet they will reply, the heart is deceitful, and they know not what they should do. Frame not arguments against thy self, when thou canst not frame them for thy self; live by faith, when thou canst not live by sense and comfort.

¹First, Though thou canst not say thy condition is good, yet do not say that thy condition is bad. Though thou canst not affirm thou hast the faith of Evidence, yet do not peremptorily say, thou hast not the faith of Adherence; though thou hast not the witness of the spirit for thee, yet do not bear false witness against thy self; canst not thou say thou art sure of Heaven, yet do not say there is no hope of Heaven; though thou canst not own Heaven as thine, do not disown it; if thou canst not prove it, do not disclaim it. It is strange yet ordinary to see many doubting Christians dispute against themselves, and reason against their own comfort; tell them of their longing after Christ, their weeping and mourning for him, they doubt it is not in truth: if you say to them, if you do not truly love him, then let him alone, and follow no more after him; why do you grieve for him because you cannot finde him, if you do not truly love him? they will reply, conscience will put a man on to do something, when yet it may not bee done out of love to God; if you aske, can you take up with any thing short of Christ, though indeed they cannot, yet they will reply, the heart is deceitful, and they know not what they should do. Frame not arguments against thy self, when thou canst not frame them for thy self; live by faith, when thou canst not live by sense and comfort.