The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32…

Now when you understand these things well, this is the Use that I would have you make of them.

1. Do not begin the way to your Spiritual Peace, by enquiring after the sincerity of your Graces, and trying your selves by Signs: Do not seek out for Assurance of Salvation in the first place; nor do not look and study after the special Comforts which come from certainty of Special Grace, b• fore you have learned 1. To perform the Duty, 2. And to Receive the Comforts which General Grace affordeth. Such immethodical disorderly proceedings, keepeth thousands of poor ignorant Christians in darkness and trouble almost all their days. Let the first thing you do, be to obey the voice of the Gospel, which calleth you to Accept of Christ and special Mercy: This is the Record that God hath given us eternal Life, and this life is in his Son: He that hath the Son hath life. Fix this deep in your mind; ⟨p. 36⟩that the nature of the Gospel is first to declare to our Understandings, the most gracious Nature, undertakings and performances of Christ for us (which must be believed to be true:) And 2. To Offer this Christ with all his special Mercy to every man to whom this Gospel comes, and to Entreat them to Accept Christ and Life, which is freely given and offered to them. Remember then, You are a lost sinner: for certain Christ and Life in him is given and offered to you. Now your first work is, Presently to accept it: not to make an unseasonable enquiry, Whether Christ be yours? but to Take him that he may be yours. If you were Condemned, and a Pardon were freely Given you, on Condition you would Thankfully Take it, and it were offered to you and you entreated to take it; what would you do in this Case? would you spend your time and thoughts in searching whether this Pardon be already yours? or would you not presently Take it that it may be yours? Or if you were ready to famish, and food were offered you; would you stand asking first, How shall I know that it is mine? or rather Take and Eat it, when you are sure it may be yours if you will. Let me entreat you therefore, when the devil clamours in your ears [Christ and Salvation is none of thine,]