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

In the best, a great deal of resolvedness, diligence and unwearied constancy in searching into the state of the soul, is necessary to the attainment of a settled Assurance and Peace: How much more in them that have so small and almost undiscernible a measure of Grace to discover. 6. Yet further, The Conceptions, Apprehensions, and consequently the sensible motions of the Will, and especially the Passions, are all naturally exceeding mutable: And while the mobile, agile spirits are any way the Instruments, it will be so: especially where the Impression which is made in the understanding is so small and weak. Naturally mans mind and will is exceeding mutable, turned into an hundred shapes in a few days, according as objects are presented to us, and ⟨p. 128⟩the temperature of the body disposeth, helps or hinders the mind. Let us hear one man reason the Case; and we think he makes all as clear as the Light: Let us hear another solve all his Arguments, and dispute for the contrary, and then we see that our Apprehensions were abused. Let us hear him Reply and confute all again, and confirm his Cause, and then we think him in the right again. Nothing more changeable then the conceivings and mind of man, till he be throughly Resolved and Habituated. Now in this Case, how shall those that have but little Grace be able to discern it? It will not keep the mind from fluctuating. If they seem Resolved for obedience to Christ to day, to morrow they are so shaken by some enticing object, and force of the same temptation, that their Resolution is undiscernible; nay actually they prefer sin at that time before obedience: It is impossible then but the soul should stagger and be at a loss; for it will judge of it self as it finds it self: and it cannot discern the Habitual Prevalency of Christs Interest when they feel the Actual Prevalency of the fleshes Interest. For the Act is the only discoverer of the Habit: And if Peter himself should then have fallen to the examination of his heart, Whether he Preferred Christ before his Life, at the same time when he was denying ⟨p. 129⟩and forswearing Christ to save his Life, do you think he could have discerned it? and yet even then Christs Interest was greatest in him Habitually. If David should have gone to search, whether he preferred obedience to God before his fleshly pleasure, when he was committing Adultery;