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

Object. But though I break through lesser trials, I am not sure to overcome in greater: for the same measure of Grace will not enable a man to forsake All, which will enable him to forsake a little. Many have gone through smaller trials, and after forsaken ⟨p. 111⟩Christ in greater: And Christ makes it the property of temporaries that are not rooted in the faith, that they fall when tribulation and persecution for the Gospel ariseth: and therefore it seems they may stand till then: and if trial never come, they may never fall, and yet be unsound in the mean time?

Answ. 1. If your trial now be considerable, the truth of Grace may be manifested in it, though it be none of the greatest, and though in striving against sin you have not yet resisted unto blood. 2. If you carefully observe your own heart, you may discern whether the spirit and your resolutions be prevalent, by their daily subduing and mortifying the flesh and its lusts. Nay let me tell you, the Victory of Gods Spirit over the flattering, enticing world in prosperity, is as great and glorious, if not more, then that over the frowning, persecuting world in adversity. And therefore find the one, and you need not fear the other. Though I confess that hypocrites do not fall so visibly and shamefully always in prosperity as in adversity: for they have more pretences, advantages and carnal shifts to hide the shame of their falls. And for that in the Parable in Mat. 13. I pray you mark one thing: Christ seems to speak of every several sort of Hearers by a Gradation, speaking last of those ⟨p. 112⟩that go farthest. The first sort are the common, ignorant, negligent Hearers, in whom the word takes no root at all. The second sort are those that give it a slight and shallow rooting, but no deep rooting at all: these are they that fall away in tribulation. By falling away, is meant the plain deserting Christ or the substance of his Cause. These men till this falling away, though they professed Christ, and heard the word with joy, yet no doubt, did not crucify the flesh & the world: whereby they might have discovered their unsoundness if they would, before tribulation came: First, By discerning that the Word was not deep rooted, 1. In their Judgement and Estimation, 2. Or in their Wills and settled Resolution. Secondly, And by discerning the unmortified lusts of their hearts in the mean time. But it seems the third sort of Hearers likened to the thorny ground, went further then these: for here it is only said by