A27009:174
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.
1. Some poor souls have languished in doubtings and trouble of mind almost all their days, in expectation of such a kind of witness as the Spirit useth not to give: when in the mean time they have other sufficient means of Comfort, and knew not how to improve them; yea they had the true witness of the Spirit in his inhabitation and holy workings, and did not know it; but run as Samuel did to Eli, not knowing the voice of God: and look for the Spirits testimony when they had it, as the Jews for Elijah and the Messiah.
1. Some poor souls have languished in doubtings and trouble of minde almost all their daies, in expectation of such a kinde of witness as the Spirit useth not to give: when in the mean time they have other sufficient means of Comfort, and knew not how to improve them; yea they had the true witness of the Spirit in his inhabitation and holy workings, and did not know it; but run as Samuel did to Eli, not knowing the voice of God: and look for the Spirits testimony when they had it, as the Jews for Elias and the Messias.
2. Others do more dangerously err, by taking the strong conceit of their own fantasy for the witness of the Spirit. As soon as they do but entertain the opinion that it must be such a witness of the Spirit, without the use of Marks, that must Assure men of their Adoption, presently they are confident that they have that witness themselves. It is scarce likely to be Gods Spirit that is so ready upon the mere change of an opinion: The devil useth to do as much to cherish ⟨p. 71⟩presumption, as to destroy true faith and Assurance. It is a shrewd sign that our persuasions of our truth of Grace is a delusion, when we find the devil a friend to it, and helping it on: and it is a probable sign it is a good persuasion, when we find the devil an enemy to it, and still troubling us, and endeavouring our disquiet.
2. Others do more dangerously erre, by taking the strong conceit of their own phantasie for the witness of the Spirit. As soon as they do but entertain the opinion that it must be such a witness of the Spirit, without the use of Marks, that must Assure men of their Adoption, presently they are confident that they have that witness themselves. It is scarce likely to be Gods Spirit that is so ready upon the meer change of an opinion: The devil useth to do as much to cherish