A27009:371
The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32…
The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32 directions : written for the use of a troubled friend / and now published by Richard Baxter ...
London: printed for T. Underhil, 1653
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
DIRECTION XXIII.
23. My next advice is this, Think not that those doubts and troubles of mind, which are caused and continued by wilful Disobedience, will ever be well healed but by the healing of that Disobedience: or that the same means must be used and will suffice to the cure of such troubles; which must be used and will suffice to cure the troubles of a tender-conscience, and of an obedient Christian, whose trouble is merely through mistakes of their condition.
23. My next advice is this, Think not that those doubts and troubles of minde, which are caused and continued by wilfull Disobedience, will ever be well healed but by the healing of that Disobedience: or that the same means must be used and will suffice to the cure of such troubles; which must be used and will suffice to cure the troubles of a tender-conscience, and of an obedient Christian, whose trouble is meerly through mistakes of their condition.
I Will begin with the later part of this Direction. He that is troubled upon mere mistakes may be quieted upon the removal of them. If he understood not the universal extent of Christs satisfaction, or of the Covenant or conditional Grant of Christ and Life in him: and if upon ⟨p. 247⟩this he be troubled, as thinking that he is not included; the convincing him of his error may suffice to the removal of his trouble. If he be troubled through his mistaking the nature of true Faith, or true Love, or other Graces, and so think that he hath them not when he hath them; the discovery of his error may be the quieting of his soul. The soul that is troubled upon such mistakes must be tenderly dealt with: Much more they that are disquieted by groundless fears, or too deep apprehensions of the wrath or justice of God, of the evil of sin, and of their unworthiness, and for want of fuller apprehensions of the loving kindness of God, and the tender compassionate nature of Christ. We can scarce handle such souls too gently. God would have all to be tenderly dealt with, that are tender of displeasing and dishonouring him by sin. Gods own language may teach all Ministers what language we should use to such,