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

DIRECTION XI.

11. In the Trial of your State, Be sure that you make use of Infallible signs of Sincerity, and take not those for certain which are not.

And to that end remember what I said before, that you must well understand wherein the Nature of saving Faith, and so of all saving Grace doth consist. And when you understand this, write it down in two or three lines: and both at your first trial, and afterward when ever any doubts do drive you to a Review of your Evidences, still have recourse only to those Signs. and try by them. What these Signs are, I have showed you so fully in the forecited place in my book of Rest, that I shall say but little now. Remember that Infallible signs are very few; and that whatsoever is made the condition of salvation, that is the most Infallible evidence of our salvation, and therefore the fittest Mark to try by: And therefore Faith in God the Father and the Redeemer, is the main Evidence. But because I have elsewhere showed you, that this ⟨p. 87⟩Faith is comprehensive of Love, Gratitude, Resolution to Obey and Repentance; let me more particularly open it to help you in the Trial. To prove any Grace to be saving, it is necessary that you prove that salvation is fully promised to him that hath it. Now if you will know what it is that hath this promise; I will tell you, 1. As to the Object. 2. The Act. 3. The degree or modification of the Act. For all these three must be enquired after if you will get Assurance. 1. The Object is principally God and the Redeemer Christ: And secondarily the Benefits given by Christ: and under that, the means to attain the principal Benefits, &c. 2. The Act hath many Names drawn from Respective and Modal differences in the Object; as Faith, Desire, Love, choosing, Accepting, Receiving, Consenting, &c. But properly all are comprised in one word, Willing. The Understandings high estimation of God, and Christ, and Grace, is a Principal part of true saving Grace; but yet it is difficult and scarce possible to judge of your self by it rightly, but only as it discovers it self by prevailing with the Will. 3. The Degree of this Act must be such, as ordinarily prevaileth against its contrary: I mean, both the contrary Object, and the contrary Act to the same Object. But because I doubt