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

19. We may Rejoice in other mens good Works and Graces (and do, if we be true Christians,) therefore in our own.

20. We may Rejoice in Gods outward Mercies; therefore much more in inward, and such as accompany salvation. All these Arguments prove that we may take up our Comfort from our own Gracious Qualifications and Actions (not in opposition to Christ, but in subordination to him:) and most of them prove that we may fetch our Assurance of salvation from them, as undoubted Evidences thereof.

I have said the more in Answer to these Objections, 1. Because never any came with fairer pretences of exalting Christ, and maintaining the honour of his Righteousness and free Grace, and of denying our selves and our own Righteousness. 2. And yet few Doctrines more dishonour Christ, and destroy the very substance of all Religion. Even as if a man should cry down him that would Praise and commend Obedience to the King, and say, You must Praise nothing but the King: so do these cry down our looking at and Rejoicing in our Love to Christ, and our Thankfulness to him, and our Obedience, and all under ⟨p. 85⟩pretence of honouring him. Nay they will not have us Rejoice in one part of Christs salvation (his saving us from the power of sin, and his sanctifying us,) under pretence that we dishonour the other part of his salvation (his Justifying us.) If ever Satan transformed himself into an Angel of Light, and his Ministers into Ministers of Light, it is in the mistakes of the Antinomians: and no people in the world (except carnal Libertines, whom this doctrine fits to a hair) are in more danger of them, then poor doubting Christians under trouble of Conscience: specially if they be not judicious, and skilled in the Doctrine of Christ. For the very pretence of extolling Christ and free Grace will take much with such: and any New-way will sometime seem to give them Comfort, upon the very novelty and sudden change.