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

DIRECTION XVIII.

18. Next, that you may yet further understand the true Nature of Assurance, Faith, Doubting and Desperation, I would have you observe this; That God doth not command every man, nor properly any man, ordinarily by his Word, to Believe that his sins are forgiven, and himself is Justified, Adopted, and shall be saved. But he hath prescribed a way by which they may attain to Assurance of these, in which way it is mens Duty to seek it: So that our Assurance is not properly that which is called A Certainty of Belief.

18. Next, that you may yet further understand the true Nature of Assurance, Faith, Doubting and Desperation, I would have you observe this; That God doth not command every man, nor properly any man, ordinarily by his Word, to Bel•eve that his sins are forgiven, and himself is Justified, Adopted, and shall be saved. But he hath prescribed a way by which they may attain to Assurance of these, in which way it is mens Duty to seek it: So that our Assurance is not properly that which is called A Certainty of Belief.

I Have said enough for the proof of this Proposition in the third Part of my Book of Rest, Chap. 1•. whither I must refer you. But there is more to be said ⟨p. 190⟩yet for the Application of it. But first I must briefly tell you the meaning of the words. 1. God commandeth us all to believe (wicked and godly) that our sins are made pardonable by the sufficient satisfaction of Christ for them; and that God is very merciful and ready to forgive: and that he hath conditionally forgiven us all in the New Covenant, making a deed of gift of Christ and pardon and Life in him to all, on condition they Believe in him and Accept what is given. 2. But no man is commanded to Believe that he is Actually forgiven. 3. Therefore I say our Assurance is not strictly to be called Belief or a Certainty of Belief. For it is only our Certain Belief of those things which we take on the mere credit of the Witnesser or Revealer, which we call, Certainty of Faith. Indeed we commonly in English use the word Belief to express any confident, but uncertain opinion or persuasion: And if any will so take it, then I deny not but our Assurance is a Belief. But it is commonly taken by Divines for an Assent to any thing on the credit of the word of the Revealer; and so is distinguished both from the sensible Apprehension of things, and from Principles that are known by the mere Light and help of Nature; and from