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

And for all the Antinomian objections against this, as if it were a leading men to their own righteousness from Christ, I refer you to the twenty Arguments which I before laid you down to prove that we may and must fetch our Assurance and Comfort from our own works and Graces: and so from our own Evangelical Righteousness, which is subordinate to Christs Righteousness (which he speaks of, Matth. 25. last; and in forty places more;) though we must have no thoughts of a Legal Righteousness (according to the Law of Works or Ceremonies) in our selves. They may as well say that a woman doth forsake her husband, because she comforteth her self in this, that she hath not forsaken him or been false and unchaste, thence gathering that he will not give her a bill of Divorce: Or that a servant forsakes his Master; or a subject his Prince; or a Parent is forsaken by his child; because they comfort themselves in their Obedience and Loyalty, gathering thence that they are not flat Rebels, and shall not be used as Rebels! Or that ⟨p. 278⟩any that enter Covenant with Superiors do forsake them because they comfort themselves in their keeping Covenant, as a sign that the Covenant shall be kept with them: All these are as wise collections, as to gather that a man forsakes Christ and his Righteousness, and setteth up his own in stead of it, because he looks at his not forsaking, refusing and vilifying of Christ, his Love and faithful obedience to Christ, as comfortable signs that Christ will not forsake and reject him. Do these men think that a Rebel may have the love of his Prince, and as much comfort from him as a Loyal subject? or a whorish woman have as much love and comfort from her husband, as a faithful Wife? or a stubborn rebellious son or servant have as much love and comfort from their Father or Master as the dutiful? If there be so near a Relation as hitherto we have supposed, between a Sovereign and subjection to him, and a Husband and Marriage-faithfulness to him, and a Master and service to him, and a Father and loving obedience to him; it is strange that men should suppose such a strange opposition, as these men do? Certainly God doth not so when he saith, Mal. 1.6. If I be a Father where is mine ⟨p. 279⟩honour? and if I be a Master where is my fear? And