The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…

And here I desire all doubting Christians, to lay by the common mistake in the trying of their faith or trust in Christ, and to go hereafter upon surer grounds. Many say, I cannot believe or trust Christ for salvation, for I am full of doubts, and fears, and troubles; and surely this is not trusting God. Ans. 1. The question is not, whether you trust him perfectly, so as to have no fears, no troubles, no doubts: but whether you trust him sincerely, so far as to venture all upon him in his way. If you can venture all on him, and let go all to follow him, your faith is true and saving.

This would abundantly comfort many fearful troubled Christians, if they did but understand it well: For many of them that thus fear, would as soon as any, forsake all for Christ, and let go all carnal pleasures, and worldly things, or any wilful sin whatsoever, rather than forsake him; and would not take to any other portion and felicity than God, nor any other way than Christ, and the Spirit of holiness, for all the temptations in the world: And yet they fear because they fear; and doubt more because they doubt. Doubting soul, let this resolve thee; suppose Christ and his way were like a Pilot with his Ship at Sea: Many more promise to convey thee safely, and many persuade thee not to venture, but stay at Land: But if thou hast so much trust as that thou wilt go, and put thy self, and all that thou hast into this Ship, and forsake all other, though thou go trembling all the way, and be afraid of every storm, and tempest, and gulf; yet thou hast true faith, though it be weak. If thy faith will but keep thee in the Ship with Christ, that thou neither turn back again to the flesh▪ and world; nor yet take another Ship and Pilot, (as Mohammedans, and those without the Church) undoubtedly Christ will bring thee safe to Land, though thy fear and distrust be still thy sin.

This would abundantly comfort many fearful troubled Christians, if they did but understand it well: For many of them that thus fear, would as soon as any, forsake all for Christ, and let go all carnal pleasures, and worldly things, or any wilful sin whatsoever, rather than forsake him; and would not take to any other portion and felicity than God, nor any other way than Christ, and the Spirit of holiness, for all the temptations in the world: And yet they fear because they fear; and doubt more because they doubt. Doubting soul, let this resolve thee; suppose Christ and his way were like a Pilot with his Ship at Sea: Many more promise to convey thee safely, and many perswade thee not to venture, but stay at Land: But if thou hast so much trust as that thou wilt go, and put thy self, and all that thou hast into this Ship, and forsake all other, though thou go trembling all the way, and be afraid of every storm, and tempest, and gulf; yet thou hast true faith, though it be weak. If thy faith will but keep thee in the Ship with Christ, that thou neither turn back again to the flesh and world; nor yet take another Ship and Pilot, (as Mahometanes, and those without the Church) undoubtedly Christ will bring thee safe to Land, though thy fear and distrust be still thy sin.