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

1. Some kind of Probability you may gather by comparing your self with others. Though this way be but delusory to unregenerate men, whose confidence is plainly contradicted by the Scriptures, yet may it be lawful and useful to an humble soul that is willing to obey and wait on God: I mean, to consider, that if such as you should perish, how few people would God have in the world? Consider first in how narrow a compass the Church was confined before Christs coming in the flesh? and how carnal and corrupt even that visible Church then was? and even at this day, the most Learned do compute, that if you divide the world into thirty parts, nineteen of them are Heathenish Idolaters, six of them are Mahometans, and only fi•e of ⟨p. 172⟩them are Christians. And of these five that are Christians, how great a part are of the Ethiopian, Greek and Popish Churches? so ignorant, rude and superstitious and erroneous, that salvation cannot be imagined to be near so easy or ordinary with them as with us: and of the Reformed Churches, commonly called Protestants, how small is the number? And even among these, What a number are grossly ignorant and profane? and of those that profess more knowledge and zeal, how many are grossly Erroneous, Schismatical and Scandalous. How exceeding small a number is left then that are such as you? I know this is no assuring Argument: but I know withal that Christ died not in vain; but he will see the fruit of his sufferings to the satisfaction of his soul: and the God of Mercy, who is a Lover of mankind, will have a multitude innumerable of his saved ones in the earth.

1. Some kinde of Probability you may gather by comparing your self with others. Though this way be but delusory to unregenerate men, whose confidence is plainly contradicted by the Scriptures, yet may it be lawfull and usefull to an humble soul that is willing to obey and wait on God: I mean, to consider, that if such as you should perish, how few people would God have in the world? Consider first in how narrow a compass the Church was confined before Christs coming in the flesh? and how carnal and corrupt even that visible Church then was? and even at this day, the most Learned do compute, that if you divide the world into thirty parts, nineteen of them are Heathenish Idolaters, six of them are Ma•ometans, and only fi•e of