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

We have repentance that it might break us off from sin and bring us back to God: We have Love that we might Love God and our Redeemer, his Saints and Laws and ways: We have Zeal that we might be quickened in all our holy duties: and we have obedience to keep us in the way of our duty: The first thing we have to do with these Graces is to use them for those holy ends which their nature doth ⟨p. 235⟩express. And then the discerning of them that we may have Assurance followeth after this both in time and dignity. 6. And it is a matter of far greater concernment to our selves to seek after the obtaining of Christ and Grace, then after the certain knowledge that we have them. You may be saved though you never get Assurance here, but you cannot be saved without Christ and Grace. God hath not made Assurance the Condition of your salvation. It tends indeed exceedingly to your comfort, and a precious mercy it is; but your safety lieth not on it. It is better go sorrowful and doubting to Heaven, then comfortably to hell. First therefore ask what is the Condition of salvation and the way to it, and then look that you do your best to perform it, and to go that way; and then try your performance in its season. 7. Besides, as it is a work of far greater moment, so also of quicker dispatch, to Believe and Love Christ truly, then to get Assurance that you do truly Believe and Love him. You may believe immediately (by the help of Gods Grace:) but getting Assurance of it, may be the work of a great part of your life. Let me therefore entreat this one thing of you, that when ⟨p. 236⟩you feel the want of any Grace, you would not presently bend all your thoughts upon the enquiry Whether it be true or no; but rather say to your self I see trying is a great and difficult, a long and tedious work: I may be this many years about it, and possibly be unresolved still. If I should conclude that I have no Grace, I may be mistaken: and so I may, if I think that I have it. I may inquire of friends and Ministers long, and yet be left in doubt; It is therefore my surest way to seek presently to obtain it, if I have it not, and to increase it if I have it: and I am certain none of that labour will be lost: to get more is the way to know I have it.

We have repentance that it might break us off from sin and bring us back to God: We have Love that we might Love God and our Redeemer, his Saints and Laws and waies: We have Zeal that we might be quickened in all our holy duties: and we have obedience to keep us in the way of our duty: The first thing we have to do with these Graces is to use them for those holy ends which their nature doth