A27009:165
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.
The sum of this Direction lieth in these things:
THe summe of this Direction lyeth in these things:
1. See that you do not content your self with the forementioned general Comforts, without looking after Assurance and special Comforts. The folly of this I have manifested in the third part of my book of Rest, about self-examination.
2. See that you dream not of finding Assurance ⟨p. 67⟩and special Comfort from mere general Grounds: This is the delusion of many Antinomians, and of most of our profane people (who I find are commonly of the Antinomian faith, naturally without teaching.) For men to conclude that they shall certainly be saved, merely because God is Merciful, or Christ is tender-hearted to sinners, and would not that any should perish, but all should come to Repentance, or because God delights not in the death of him that dieth, but rather that he Repent and live; or because Christ died for them; or because God hath given Christ and Life in the Gospel to all on Condition of believing; these are all but mere delusions. Much Comfort, as I have showed you, may be gathered from these Generals: but no Certainty of Salvation, or special Comfort can be gathered from them alone.
2. See that you dream not of finding Assurance ⟨p. 67⟩and special Comfort from meer general Grounds: This is the delusion of many Antinomians, and of most of our prophane people (who I finde are commonly of the Antinomian faith, naturally withouth teaching.) For men to conclude that they shall certainly be saved, meerly because God is Mercifull, or Christ is tender-hearted to sinners, and would not that any should perish, but all should come to Repentance, or because God delights not in the death of him that dieth, but rather that he Repent and live; or because Christ died for them; or because God hath given Christ and Life in the Gospel to all on Condition of believing; these are all but meer delusions. Much Comfort, as I have shewed you, may be gathered from these Generals: but no Certainty of Salvation, or special Comfort can be gathered from them alone.