A27009:114
The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32…
The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32 directions : written for the use of a troubled friend / and now published by Richard Baxter ...
London: printed for T. Underhil, 1653
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. You must learn (as I told you,) to Receive the Comforts of Universal or General Grace, before you search after the Comforts of Special Grace. (I here suppose you so far sound in the doctrine of the Gospel, as neither with some on one hand, to look so much at Special Grace, as to deny that General Grace which is the Ground of it, or presupposed to it: nor with others, so far to look at universal Mercy as to deny Special.) Satan will tell you, that all your Duties have been done in hypocrisy, and you are unsound at the heart, and have not a drop of saving Grace: You are apt to entertain this, and conclude that all this is true: If I had any Grace, I should have more Life, and Love and Delight in God; more tenderness of heart, more growth in Grace: I should not carry about such a Rock in my breast; such a stupid, dull, insensible soul, &c.
2. You must learn (as I told you,) to Receive the Comforts of Universal or General Grace, before you search after the Comforts of Special Grace. (I here suppose you so far sound in the doctrine of the Gospel, as neither with some on one hand, to look so much at Special Grace, as to deny that General Grace which is the Ground of it, or presupposed to it: nor with others, so far to look at universal Mercy as to deny Special.) Satan will tell you, that all your Duties have been done in hypocrisie, and you are unsound at the heart, and have not a drop of saving Grace: You are apt to entertain this, and conclude that all this is true: If I had any Grace, I should have more Life, and Love and Delight in God; more tenderness of heart, more growth in Grace: I should not carry about such a Rock in my breast; such a stupid, dull, insensible soul, &c.
At the present let us suppose that all this be true: yet see what a world of Comfort you may gather from Universal or General Mercy. I have before opened to you four parts of it in the Cause of your Happiness, ⟨p. 39⟩and three in the Effect, which may each of them afford much relief to your troubled soul.