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

This then is my advice, When you feel so great a want of faith and love (for those be the main Graces for trial and use) that you doubt whether you have any or none, lay by those doubting thoughts a while, and presently go and set your self to consider of God's Truth, Goodness, Amiableness, and Kindheartedness to miserable unworthy sinners: think what he is in himself, and what he is to you, and what he hath done for you, and what he will do for you if you do but consent. And then think of the vanity of all the childish Pleasures of this world, how soon, and in how sad a case they will leave us; and what silly contemptible things they are in comparison of the everlasting Glory of the Saints! By that time you have warmed your soul a little with such serious ⟨p. 239⟩thoughts, you will find your Faith and Love revive, and begin to stir and work within you: And then you will feel that you have Faith and Love! Only remember what I told you before, that the heart and soul of saving Faith and Love (supposing a Belief that the Gospel is true) is all in this one Act of Willingness or Consent to have Christ as he is offered. Therefore if you doubt of your Faith and Love, it is your own Willingness that you doubt of; or else you know not what you do. Now methinks, if you took but a sober view of the goodness of God and the Glory of Heaven on one side, and of the silly, empty, worthless world on the other side; and then ask your heart, Which it will choose? and say to your self, O my soul, the God of Glory offers thee thy choice, of dung and vanity for a little time, or of the unconceivable Joys of Heaven for ever: Which wilt thou choose? I say, methinks the answer of your own soul should presently resolve you that you do Believe, and that you Love God above this present world! For if you can choose him before the world, then you are more willing of him then the world: and if he have more of your will, for certain he ⟨p. 240⟩hath more of your Faith and Love. Use therefore, in stead of doubting of your Faith, to Believe till you put it out of doubt: And if yet you doubt, study God and Christ and Glory yet better, and keep those objects by Consideration close to your heart, whose nature is to work the heart to Faith and Love. For certainly objects have a mighty power on the soul: and certainly God and Christ and Grace and Glory are Mighty Objects;

This then is my advice, When you feel so great a want of faith and love (for those be the main Graces for trial and use) that you doubt whether you have any or none, lay by those doubting thoughts a while, and presently go and set your self to consider of God's Truth, Goodness, Amiableness, and Kindheartedness to miserable unworthy sinners: think what he is in himself, and what he is to you, and what he hath done for you, and what he will do for you if you do but consent. And then think of the vanity of all the childish Pleasures of this world, how soon, and in how sad a case they will leave us; and what silly contemptible things they are in comparison of the everlasting Glory of the Saints! By that time you have warmed your soul a little with such serious