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

1. Pardon, Justification and Adoption, ⟨p. 76⟩and Salvation, are all Given to us in the Gospel only Conditionally (if we believe:) and the Condition is an act, or rather several acts of our own. Now till the Condition be performed, no man can have any Certainty that the Benefit shall be his: nor can he by any other means (ordinarily) be certain of the Benefit, but by that which ascertaineth him that he hath performed the Condition. God saith, He that Believeth shall be saved: No man can know then that he shall be saved till he first know that he Believeth. Else he should know either contrary to that which is written, or more then that which is written: And Justification and Adoption should be given some other way then by the Gospel Promise (for that Promise giveth them only Conditionally, and so suspendeth the actual right, upon the performance of the Condition:) But if any can show any other way by which God maketh over pardon and Adoption, besides the Gospel promise, let them do it; but I will not promise suddenly to believe them; for it was never yet showed as I know of. Also, if men must not look a• their own performance of the Condition, to prove their right to the benefit, then either all or none must believe that they have tha• right. For the Promise saith, He that Believeth shall be saved. And this is a promise of Lif• ⟨p. 77⟩conditionally to all. If all must believe that they shall be saved, then most of the world must believe a lye. If the true believer may not therefore conclude that he shall be saved, because he performeth the condition of the promise, then no man may believe it. And for that absolute Promise of the new Heart, no man can, or may believe that it is his, till he have that new heart which it promiseth; that is, till it be fulfilled: For there is no Mark by which a man can know whether that Promise belong to him or no, beforehand: and if all should believe that it belongs to them, most would find it false.

1. Pardon, Justification and Adoption, ⟨p. 76⟩and Salvation, are all Given to us in the Gospel only Conditionally (if we believe:) and the Condition is an act, or rather several acts of our own. Now till the Condition be performed, no man can have any Certainty that the Benefit shall be his: nor can he by any other means (ordinarily) be certain of the Benefit, but by that which ascertaineth him that he hath performed the Condition. God saith, He that Believeth shall be saved: No man can know then that he shall be saved till he first know that he Believeth. Else he should know either contrary to that which is written, or more then that which is written: And Justification and Adoption should be given some other way then by the Gospel Promise (for that Promise giveth them only Conditionally, and so suspendeth the actual right, upon the performance of the Condition:) But if any can shew any other way by which God maketh over pardon and Adoption, besides the Gospel promise, let them do it; but I will not promise suddenly to believe them; for it was never yet shewed as I know of. Also, if men must not look a their own performance of the Condition, to prove their right to the benefit, then eithe all or none must believe that they have tha right. For the Promise saith, He that Believet shall be saved. And this is a promise of Lif