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

2. But the weak Christian hath so small a degree of grace, and so much corruption, and his grace is so little in act, and his sin so much, that he seldom if ever attaineth to any well-grounded assurance, till he attain to a greater measure of grace. He differeth so little from the seeming Christian, that neither himself nor others do certainly discern the difference. When he searcheth after the truth of his faith, and love, and heavenly mindedness, he findeth so much unbelief and averseness from God, and earthly mindedness, that he cannot be certain which of them is predominant; and whether the interest of this world or that to come, do bear the sway. So that he is often in perplexities and fears, and more often in a dull uncertainty: And if he seem at any ⟨p. 68⟩time to have assurance, it is usually but an ill-grounded persuasion of the truth: though it be true which he apprehendeth, when he taketh himself to be the child of God, yet it is upon unsound reasons that he judgeth so, or else upon sound reasons weakly and uncertainly discerned: so that there is commonly much of security, presumption, fancy, or mistake, in his greatest comforts. He is not yet in a condition fit for full assurance, till his love and obedience be more full.

2. But the weak Christian hath so small a degree of grace, and so much corruption, and his grace is so little in act, and his sin so much, that he seldom if ever attaineth to any well-grounded assurance, till he attain to a greater measure of grace. He differeth so little from the seeming Christian, that neither himself nor others do certainly discern the difference. When he searcheth after the truth of his faith, and love, and heavenly mindedness, he findeth so much unbelief and aversness from God, and earthly mindedness, that he cannot be certain which of them is predominant; and whether the interest of this world or that to come, do bear the sway. So that he is often in perplexities and fears, and more often in a dull uncertainty: And if he seem at any ⟨p. 68⟩time to have assurance, it is usually but an illgrounded perswasion of the truth: though it be true which he apprehendeth, when he taketh himself to be the child of God, yet it is upon unfound reasons that he judgeth so, or else upon sound reasons weakly and uncertainly discerned: so that there is commonly much of security, presumption, fancie, or mistake, in his greatest comforts. He is not yet in a condition fit for full assurance, till his love and obedience be more full.