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

19. Further understand, that Those few who do attain to Assurance, have it not either perfectly or constantly (for the most part) but mixed with imperfection, and oft clouded and interrupted.

19. Further understand, that Those few who do attain to Assurance, have it not either perfectly or constantly (for the most part) but mixt with imperfection, and oft clouded and interrupted.

That the highest Assurance on earth is imperfect, I have showed you elsewhere. If we be imperfect, and our faith imperfect, and the knowledge of our own hearts imperfect, and all our evidences and graces imperfect; then our Assurance must needs be imperfect also. To dream of Perfection on earth, is to dream of Heaven on earth: And if Assurance may be here perfect, why not all our Graces? Even when all Doubtings are overcome, yet is Assurance far short of the highest degree.

THat the highest Assurance on earth is imperfect, I have shewed you elsewhere. If we be imperfect, and our faith imperfect, and the knowledge of our own hearts imperfect, and all our evidences and graces imperfect; then our Assurance must needs be imperfect also. To dream of Perfection on earth, is to dream of Heaven on earth: And if Assurance may be here perfect, why not all our Graces? Even when all Doubtings are overcome, yet is Assurance farre short of the highest degree.

Besides that measure of Assurance which godly men do partake of, hath here its many sad interruptions, in the most. Upon ⟨p. 209⟩the prevalency of Temptations, and the hidings of Gods face, their souls are oft left in a state of sadness, that were but lately as in the arms of Christ. How fully might this be proved from the examples of Job, David, Jeremiah and others in Scripture? and much more abundantly by the daily complaints and examples of the best of Gods people now living among us. As there is no perfect evenness to be expected in our obedience while we are on earth; so neither will there be any constant or perfect evenness in our comforts. He that hath life in one duty, is cold in the next: and therefore he that hath much joy in one duty, hath little in the next. Yea perhaps duty may but occasion the renewal of his sorrows; that the soul who before felt not its own burden, at a Sermon, or in Prayer, or holy Meditation, which were wont to revive him, now seems to feel his miseries to be multiplied. The time was once with David, when the thoughts of God were sweet to him, and he could say, In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul: And yet he saw the time also, When he remembered God and was troubled, he complained and his Spirit was overwhelmed: God so held his eyes waking, that he was troubled and