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

But only let it make you hold fast on Christ, and keep close to him in obedience. Shall I lay open all the matter expressed in this section, by a familiar comparison?

A King having many Subjects and Sons, which are all beyond Sea, or beyond some River, they must needs be brought over to him before they can live or reign with him. The River is frozen over at the sides till it come almost to the middle. The foolish children are all playing on the Ice, where a deceiving enemy enticeth them to play on till they come to the deep, where they drop in one by one and perish. The eldest Son, who is with the Father on the other side, undertaketh to cast himself into the water, and swim to the further side, and break the Ice, and swim back with them all that will come with him and hold by him. The Father bids him, Bring all my Subjects with you, if they will come and hold by you; but be sure you fail not to bring my Sons. This is resolved on: The Prince casteth himself in the water, and swimmeth to the further side: He maketh a way through the Ice, and offereth all of them his safe carriage, if they will Accept him to be their bearer and helper, and will trust themselves on him, and hold fast by him till they come to the further side. Some refuse his help and think he would deceive them, and lead them into the deep and there leave them to perish: Some had rather play on the Ice and will ⟨p. 222⟩not hearken to him: Some dare not venture through the streams, or will not endure the coldness of the water: Some waveringly agree to him, and hold faintly by his skirt, and when they feel the cold water, or are near the deep, or are weary of holding, they lose him; either turning back; or perishing suddenly in the gulf. The children are of the same mind with the rest, but he is resolved to lose none of them, and therefore he chargeth them to come with him, and tells them fully what a welcome they shall have with their Father; and ceaseth not his importunity till he persuade them to consent: Some of them say, How shall we ever get over the River? we shall be drowned by the way: He tells them, I will carry you safe over; so you will but hold fast by me: Never fear; I warrant you: They all lay hold on him and venture in with him. When they are in the midst some are afraid, and cry out, We shall be drowned: There he encourageth, and bids them trust him; hold fast; and fear not. Others when they hear these words that they need not fear, they grow so bold and utterly secure as to lose their hold: