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

Here we are in very great Difficulties, and full of Controversies: Some say, that these gross sins do extinguish true Grace, and are inconsistent with it: and that David and Peter were out of the […] of Grace till they did again Repent: Others say, that they were in the state of Grace and not at all so liable to condemnation, but that if they had died in the Act, they had been saved: because There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus: and that therefore all the sins of Believers are alike sins of Infirmity, pardoned on the same terms: and therefore as a rash word may be pardoned without a particular repentance, so possibly may these gross sins. To others this seems dangerous and contrary to Scripture, and therefore they would fain find out a way between both: But how to do it clearly and satisfactorily is not easy (at least, to me, who have been long upon it, but am yet much in the dark in it.) I think it is plain that such persons are not totally unsanctified by ⟨p. 266⟩their sin: I believe that Christs interest is Habitually more in their Wills, then is the interest of the flesh or world, at that very time when they are sinning, and so Christs interest is least as to their Actual Willing: And so sin prevaileth for that time against the Act of their Faith and Love, but not wholly against the prevalent part of the Habit. And therefore when the shaking wind of that stormy temptation is over, the soul will return to Christ by Repentance, Love, and renewed Obedience. But then to know what state he is Relatively in this while, as to his Justification and Reconciliation and right to Glory, is the point of exceeding difficulty. Whether as we distinguish of Habitual Faith and Love and Obedience, which he hath not lost; and Actual, which he hath lost; so we must make some answerable distinction of Justification (Habitual and Actual it cannot be) into Virtual Justification, which he hath not lost, and Actual Justification which he hath lost? or into Plenary Justification (which he hath not) and Imperfect Justification, wanting a further Act to make it Plenary (which may remain.) But still, it will be more difficult to show punctually what this Imperfect ⟨p. 267⟩or Virtual Justification is? and most difficult to show, Whether with the loss of Actual Plenary Justification, and the loss of a Plenary Right to Heaven, a mans salvation may consist;

Here we are in very great Difficulties, and full of Controversies: Some say, that these gross sinnes do extinguish true Grace, and are inconsistent with it: and that David and Peter were out of the of Grace till they did again Repent: Others say, that they were in the state of Grace and not at al so liable to condemnation, but that if they had died in the Act, they had been saved: because There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus: and that therefore all the sins of Believers are alike sins of Infirmity, pardoned on the same terms: and therefore as a rash word may be pardoned without a particular repentance, so possibly may these gross sins. To others this seems dangerous and contrary to Scripture, and therefore they would fain finde out a way between both: But how to do it clearly and satisfactorily is not easie (at least, to me, who have been long upon it, but am yet much in the dark in it.) I think it is plain that such persons are not totally unsanctified by