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

This I will yet make clearer to you by its Reasons, and then tell you how to apply it to your self.

1. No man can be sure of his salvation or Justification but he that is sure of his true Faith and Love. And no man can be sure of his true Faith and Love, but he that is sure of the sincerity of his obedience: For true Faith doth ever take God for our great Sovereign, and Christ for our Lord-Redeemer, and containeth a Covenant-delivery of a mans self to God and the Redeemer to be Ruled by him, as a Subject, Child, Servant and Spouse. This is not done sincerely and savingly unless there be an actual and habitual Resolution to obey God and the Redeemer, before all creatures, and against all temptations that would draw us from him To obey Christ a little, and the flesh more, is no true obedience: If the flesh can do more with us to draw us to sin, then Faith and Obedience do, to keep us from sin, ⟨p. 272⟩ordinarily; this is no true Faith or Obedience. If Christ have not the Sovereignty in the soul, and his Interest be not the most predominant and potent, we are no true Believers. Now it is plain, that the Interest of the world and flesh doth actually prevail, when a man is actually committing a known sin, and omitting a known duty: and then it is certain that Habits are known but by the Acts. And therefore it must needs be that the soul that most sinneth must needs be most in doubt whether the Interest of Christ or the flesh be predominant? and so whether his obedience be true or no? and so whether he did sincerely take Christ for his Sovereign? and that is, whether he be a true Believer? For when a man is enquiring into the state of his soul, Whether he do subject himself to Christ as his only Sovereign? and whether the Authority and Love of Christ will do more with him, then the temptations of the world, flesh and devil? he hath no way to be resolved but by feeling the Pulse of his own Will? And if he say, I am willing to obey Christ before the f••sh, and yet do actually live in an obedience to the flesh before Christ, he is deceived in his own Will: for this is no saving Willingness. A wicked man