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

Let me ask you now whether you have indeed taken this course in your doubtings? If not, how unwisely have you done? Doubting is no cure: but actual Believing and Loving is a cure. If Faith and Love were things that you would fain get, but cannot, then you had cause enough to fear, and to lie down and rise in trouble of mind from one year to another. But its no such matter: It is so far from being beyond your reach or power to have these Graces though you would, that they themselves are nothing else but your very Willingness; at least your Willingness to have Christ is both your Faith and Love. It may be said therefore to be in the power of your Will, which is nothing else but that Actual Willingness which you have already. If therefore you are unwilling to have him, what makes you complain for want of the ⟨p. 242⟩sense of his presence, and the Assurance of his Love, and the Graces of his Spirit, as you frequently do? It's strange to me, that people should make so many complaints to God and men, and spend so many sad hours in fears and trouble, and all for want of that which they would not have: If you be not Willing be Willing now: If you say you cannot; do as I have before directed you: One hours sober, serious thoughts of God and the world, of Christ and Satan, of sin and Holiness, of Heaven and hell, and the differences of them, will do very much to make you Willing. Yet mistake me not: Though I say you may have Christ if you Will, and Faith and Love if you Will, and no man can truly say, I would be glad to have Christ (as he is offered) but Cannot; Yet this Gladness, Consent or Willingness which I mention, is the effect of the special work of the Spirit, and was not in your power before you had it: nor is it yet so in your power as to Believe without Gods further help: but he that hath made you willing, will not be wanting to maintain your willingness. Though I will say to any man, You may have Christ if you Will: yet I will say to no man, You can be willing of your ⟨p. 243⟩self, or without the special Grace of God.

Let me ask you now whether you have indeed taken this course in your doubtings? If not, how unwisely have you done? Doubting is no cure: but actual Believing and Loving is a cure. If Faith and Love were things that you would fain get, but cannot, then you had cause enough to fear, and to lie down and rise in trouble of minde from one year to another. But its no such matter: It is so far from being beyond your reach or power to have these Graces though you would, that they themselves are nothing else but your very Willingness; at least your Willingness to have Christ is both your Faith and Love. It may be said therefore to be in the power of your Will, which is nothing else but that Actual Willingness which you have already. If therefore you are unwilling to have him, what makes you complain for want of the