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

The second thing that I am to show you is, that there may much spiritual Comfort ⟨p. 174⟩and Peace of Conscience be enjoyed without any Certainty of Salvation, given upon these forementioned Probabilities. Which I prove thus, 1. No doubt but Adam in innocency had Peace of Conscience, and Comfort and Communion with God, and yet he had no Assurance of Salvation; I mean, either of continuing in Paradise, or being translated to Glory. For if he had, either he was sure to persevere in Innocency and so to be glorified. (But that was not true) or else he must foreknow both that he should fall and be raised again and saved by Christ. But this he knew not at all. 2. Experience tells us that the greatest part of Christians on earth do enjoy that Peace and Comfort which they have, without any Certainty of their Salvation. 3. The Nature of the thing telleth us, that a likelihood of so great a mercy as everlasting Glory must needs be a ground of great Comfort. If a poor condemned prisoner do but hear that there is Hopes of a pardon, specially if very probable, it will glad his heart. Indeed if an Angel from Heaven were brought into this state it would be sad to him: But if a devil or a condemned sinner have such Hope, it must needs be glad news to them. The devils have it not, but we have.

The second thing that I am to shew you is, that there may much spiritual Comfort ⟨p. 174⟩and Peace of Conscience be enjoyed without any Certainty of Salvation, given upon these forementioned Probabilities. Which I prove thus, 1. No doubt but Adam in innocency had Peace of Conscience, and Comfort and Communion with God, and yet he had no Assurance of Salvation; I mean, either of continuing in Paradise, or being translated to Glory. For if he had, either he was sure to persevere in Innocency and so to be glorified. (But that was not true) or else he must foreknow both that he should fall and be raised again and saved by Christ. But this he knew not at all. 2. Experience tels us that the greatest part of Christians on earth do enjoy that Peace and Comfort which they have, without any Certainty of their Salvation. 3. The Nature of the thing telleth us, that a likelihood of so great a mercy as everlasting Glory must needs be a ground of great Comfort. If a poor condemned prisoner do but hear that there is Hopes of a pardon, specially if very probable, it will glad his heart. Indeed if an Angel from Heaven were brought into this state it would be sad to him: But if a devil or a condemned sinner have such Hope, it must needs be glad news to them. The devils have it not, but we have.