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

If you ask me, what I think of this my self, and consequently what Assurance I have of my own Salvation; I will freely tell you, both how far I am arrived in Assurance of Sincerity of Grace and Justification, and how far in the matter of Perseverance and so of Salvation. I lay seven years under great Doubtings of the truth of my Sanctification; especially for want ⟨p. 163⟩of those Lively, Affectionate, Heart-melting effects which I desired to have found; and for want of Deeper apprehensions of God, Christ, Glory, Sin, Misery, Mercy, Duty, &c. which made me still fear that all I had was but the mere effects of Education, Reading and Speculative Knowledge; and so that I had only a Notional Religion, that touched my Fantasy and swam in my Brain, but▪ worked not throughly on my Heart; for want of more Deep and Serious Believing of those holy Truths which should be operative. Yet all this while, Probabilities of Grace, affording me that which we commonly call Hope, did bear me up. Now through the great unspeakable Mercy of my God, I have attained to so strong a Probability of my Sincerity and Sanctification, as in a large sense may be called Assurance or Certainty, but not in the strictest sense: much less is it a perfect Assurance: I have so strong a persuasion of the truth of my Faith, and so of the pardon of my sins, as overcometh most doubtings and trouble of mind, and keepeth me in quietness and peace of mind, and some Joy in the holy Ghost, and Delightful thoughts of my everlasting Rest; and gives me a Confidence in God, and Access with boldness to the Throne of his ⟨p. 164⟩Grace. But yet I find that carnal security hath a great hand in the allaying of my troubles, though not in the raising of my Joys: (And it is no unusual thing for a good Cause and a bad Faith, Assurance and Carnal security to join together in one effect; even in expelling trouble from the heart.) Yet dare I scarce say (in the usual sense of the word,) that I am certain of my Sincerity and so of my Justification: especially when Temptations have prevailed, and the strength of the fleshes interest, and the weakness of Christs interest in my Estimation and Will and Affections, have appeared more then ordinary: And when I have thought how much stronger Trials I may yet be put to, which others daily undergo:

If you ask me, what I think of this my self, and consequently what Assurance I have of my own Salvation; I will freely tell you, both how far I am arrived in Assurance of Sincerity of Grace and Justification, and how farre in the matter of Perseverance and so of Salvation. I lay seven years under great Doubtings of the truth of my Sanctification; especially for want