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

For the two first of these it will evidently appear that they are true, by reviewing the Reasons which I gave of the last point save one. He that will attain to a Certainty of Salvation, must 1. Have a large measure of Grace to be discerned. 2. He must have that Grace much in Action, and lively Action: For it is not mere Habits that are discernible. 3. He must have a clear understanding to be acquainted with the Nature of Spiritual things: To know what is a sound evidence, and how to follow the search, and how to repel particular Temptations. 4. He must have a good acquaintance and familiarity with his own heart: and to that end must be much at home, and be used sometime to a diligent observation of his heart and ways. 5. He must be in a good measure acquainted with, and a Conqueror of contradicting Temptations. 6. He must have some competent cure of the deep Deceitfulness of the ⟨p. 247⟩heart, and it must be brought to an open, plain, ingenuous frame, willing to know the worst of it self. 7. He must have some cure of that ordinary confusion and tumultuous disorder that is in the thoughts and affections of men: and get things into an order in his mind. 8. He must be a man of Diligence, Resolution, and unwearied Patience, that will Resolvedly set on the work of self-examination, and painfully watch in it, and constantly follow it from time to time till he attain a Certainty. 9. He must be one that is very fearful of sinning, and careful in close obedient walking with God, and much in sincere and spiritual duty, that he keep not conscience still in accusing and condemning him, and God still offended with him, and his wounds fresh bleeding, and his Soul still smarting. 10. He must be a man of much fixedness and constancy of mind, and not of the ordinary mutability of mankind; that so he may not by remitting his zeal and diligence, lose the sight of his evidences, nor by leaving open his soul to an alteration by every new intruding thought and temptation, let go his Assurance as soon as he attaineth it. All these things in a good degree are Necessary to the attaining of Assurance of Salvation.

For the two first of these it will evidently appear that they are true, by reviewing the Reasons which I gave of the last point save one. He that will attain to a Certainty of Salvation, must 1. Have a large measure of Grace to be discerned. 2. He must have that Grace much in Action, and lively Action: For it is not meer Habits that are discernable. 3. He must have a clear understanding to be acquainted with the Nature of Spiritual things: To know what is a sound evidence, and how to follow the search, and how to repell particular Temptations. 4. He must have a good acquaintance and familiarity with his own heart: and to that end must be much at home, and be used sometime to a diligent observation of his heart and waies. 5. He must be in a good measure acquainted with, and a Conquerour of contradicting Temptations. 6. He must have some competent cure of the deep Deceitfulness of the