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

In these words I tell you what must be done for your cure; and I warn you of two sore mistakes of many sad Christians hereabouts. The cure lieth in breaking off sin, to the utmost of your power. This is the Achan that disquieteth all. It is Gods great mercy that he disquieteth you in sinning, and gives you not over to so deep a slumber and peace in sin, as might hinder your repentance and reformation. The dangerous mistakes here are these two.

In these words I tell you what must be done for your cure; and I warn you of two sore mistakes of many sad Christians hereabouts. The cure lieth in breaking off sinne, to the utmost of your power. This is the Achan that disquieteth all. It is Gods great mercy that he disquieteth you in sinning, and gives you not over to so deep a slumber and peace in sinne, as might hinder your repentance and reformation. The dangerous mistakes here are these two.

1. Some do as the Lapwing, cry loudest when they are furthest from the nest: and complain of an aching tooth, when the disease is in the head or heart. They cry out, O I have such wandering thoughts in prayer, and such a bad memory, and so hard a heart that I cannot weep for sin; or such doubts and fears, and so little sense of the Love of God, that I doubt I have no true Grace: When they should rather say, I have so proud a heart, that God is fain by these ⟨p. 306⟩sad means to humble me: I am so high in my own eyes, so wise in my own conceit, and so tender of my own esteem and credit, that God is fain to make me base in my own eyes, and to abhor my self. I am so worldly and in love with earth, that it draws away my thoughts from God, dulls my love, and spoils all my duties. I am so sensual that I venture sooner to displease my God then my flesh: I have so little compassion on the infirmities of neighbours and servants and other brethren, and deal so censoriously, churlishly and unmercifully with them, that God is fain to hide his mercy from me, and speak to me as in anger, and vex me as in sore displeasure. I am so froward, peevish, quarrelsome, unpeaceable and hard to be pleased, that it is no wonder if I have no peace with God, or in my own conscience; and if I have so little quietness who love and seek it no more. Many have more reason, I say, to turn their complaints into this tune.