Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…

1. It is ordinary with new Converted Christians, to see the great essential truths of the Christian profession, with a great imperfection as to the evidences that discover them. Either they see but some of the solid evidence, overlooking much more than they see; or more usually they receive the truth it self upon some low insufficient evidence at first, and then proceed to a kind of mixture, taking it upon some evidences that are valid and sufficient, and joining some that are invalid, with them. But you must grow beyond this infancy of understanding: when you see greater and sounder evidences ⟨p. 92⟩for the truth than you did before; and when you see more of these solid evidences, and leave not out so many as you did; and when you lay smaller stress upon the smaller evidences, and none upon those that are invalid and indeed no evidences, then are your understandings more confirmed in the truth, and this is a principal part of their growth. So we find the Samaritans of Sychar, Joh. 4.39, 40, 41, 42. [Many of them believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. (This was the first faith upon a weaker evidence) [And many more believed, because of his own words, and said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying, for we have heard him our selves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. Here is a notable confirmation and growth, by believing and knowing the same thing which they believed before; it was before believed on weaker evidence, and now upon stronger. Thus Nathaniel by Philips persuasion was drawn to Christ; but when he perceived his omniscience that he knew the heart, and things that were distant and out of the reach of common knowledge, he is confirmed, and saith, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel] And yet Christ telleth him, that there were far greater evidences yet to be revealed, which might beget a more confirmed, stronger faith [Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the figtree, believest thou? Thou shalt see greater things than these: verily, verily I say unto you, hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the Angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man, Joh. 1.45, 49, 50, 51. There ⟨p. 93⟩