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

But perhaps you will say, How should I get more Grace? that's a business of greater difficulty then so. I answer, Understand what I told you before, that as the beginning of Grace is in your Understanding, so the heart and life of it is in your Will: and the Affections and passionate part are but the fruits and branches. If therefore your Grace be weak, it is chiefly in an unwillingness to yield to Christ and his Word and Spirit. Now how should an unwilling soul be made willing? Why thus, 1. Pray constantly as you are able, for a willing mind, and ⟨p. 237⟩yielding inclinable heart to Christ. 2. Hear constantly those Preachers that bend their doctrine to inform your understanding of the great necessity and excellency of Christ and Grace and Glory; and to persuade the Will with the most forcible Arguments. A persuading quickening Ministry that helps to excite your Graces and draw up your heart to Christ, is more useful then they that spend most of their time to persuade you of your sincerity, and give you comfort. 3. But specially lay out your thoughts more in the most serious Considerations of those things which tend to breed and feed those particular Graces which you would have increased. Objects and moving Reasons kept much upon the mind by serious thoughts, are the great engine appointed both by nature and by Grace to turn about the soul of man. Thoughts are to your soul, as taking in the Air, and Meat and Drink to your body. Objects considered do turn the soul into their own Nature. Such as are the things that you most think and consider of (I mean in pursuance of them) such will you be your self. Consideration, frequent serious Consideration is Gods great Instrument to convert the soul and to ⟨p. 238⟩confirm it: to get grace and to keep it and increase it: If any soul perish for want of Grace, it's ten to one it is mainly for want of frequent and serious Consideration. That the most of us do languish under such weaknesses, and attain to small degrees of Grace, is for want of sober, frequent consideration. We know not how great things this would do, if it were but faithfully managed.

But perhaps you will say, How should I get more Grace? that's a business of greater difficulty then so. I answer, Understand what I told you before, that as the beginning of Grace is in your Understanding, so the heart and life of it is in your Will: and the Affections and passionate part are but the fruits and branches. If therefore your Grace be weak, it is chiefly in an unwillingness to yield to Christ and his Word and Spirit. Now how should an unwilling soul be made willing? Why thus, 1. Pray constantly as you are able, for a willing minde, and