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

2. But the weak Christian is unfit yet to manage assurance well: and therefore it is that it is not given ⟨p. 69⟩him: Graces must grow proportionably together. If he be but confidently persuaded that he is justified and shall be saved, he is very apt to gather some consequence from it, that tendeth to security and to the remitting of his watchfulness and care: He is ready to be the bolder with sin, and stretch his conscience, and omit some duties, and take more fleshly liberty and ease, and think, Now I am a child of God, I am out of danger, I am sure I cannot totally fall away: And though his judgement conclude not [therefore I may venture further upon worldly fleshly pleasures, and need not be so strict and diligent as I was] yet his heart and practice thus conclude. And he is most obedient when he is most in fear of hell, and he is worst in his heart and life, when he is most confident that all his danger is past. Heb. 4.1, 2. & 3.14, 15.16.

2. But the weak Christian is unfit yet to manage assurance well: and therefore it is that it is not given ⟨p. 69⟩him: Graces must grow proportionably together. If he be but confidently perswaded that he is justified and shall be saved, he is very apt to gather some consequence from it, that tendeth to security and to the remitting of his watchfulness and care: He is ready to be the bolder with sin, and stretch his conscience, and omit some duties, and take more fleshly liberty and ease, and think, Now I am a child of God, I am out of danger, I am sure I cannot totally fall away: And though his judgement conclude not [therefore I may venture further upon worldly fleshly pleasures, and need not be so strict and diligent as I was] yet his heart and practice thus conclude. And he is most obedient when he is most in fear of hell, and he is worst in his heart and life, when he is most confident that all his danger is past. Heb. 4.1, 2. & 3.14, 15.16.