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

For though he will be for Reformation too, yet his name is Legion, he is an Enemy to the one God, one Mediator and Head, one Faith and one Baptism, one heart, and lip▪ and one way. Unity is the chief butt that he shoots at. Is Baptism to be Reformed? Christ is so moderate a Reformer, that he only bids, Down with the Symbolical Mystical Rite of mans vain addition. But the Serpent is a more Zealous Reformer: He saith, Out with express Covenanting! Out with Children; They are a corruption of the Ordinance: and to others he says, Out with Baptism it self. We might follow him thus through other Ordinances. Indeed he so Overdoes in his Reforming, that he would not leave us a Gospel, a Ministry, a Magistracy ⟨p. 364⟩to be for Christ, an Ordinance, no nor a Christ: (though yet he would seem to own a God, and the light of Nature.) All these with him are Antichristian.

For though he will be for Reformation too, yet his name is Legion, he is an Enemy to the one God, one Mediator and Head, one Faith and one Baptism, one heart, and lip▪ and one way. Unity is the chief butt that he shoots at. Is Baptism to be Reformed? Christ is so moderate a Reformer, that he onely bids, Down with the Symbolical Mystical Rite of mans vain addition. But the Serpent is a more Zealous Reformer: He saith, Out with express Covenanting! Out with Children; They are a corruption of the Ordinance: and to others he says, Out with Baptism it self. We might follow him thus through other Ordinances. Indeed he so Overdoes in his Reforming, that he would not leave us a Gospel, a Ministry, a Magistra•y ⟨p. 364⟩to be for Christ, an Ordinance, no nor a Christ: (though yet he would seem to own a God, and the light of Nature.) All these with him are Antichristian.

By this time I hope you see that this way of Over-doing hath another Author then many zealous people do imagine: and that it is the Devils common successful trade: so that his Agents in State-Assemblies are taught his Policy, When you have no other way of un-doing, let it be by over-doing. And the same way he takes with the souls of particular persons: If he see them troubled for sin, and he cannot keep them from the knowledge of Christ and free Grace, he puts the name of [free Grace and Gospel preaching] upon Antinomian and Libertine errors which subvert the very Gospel and free Grace it self. If he see men convinced of this, and that it is neither common nor Religious Libertinism and sensuality that will bring men to Heaven, then he will labour to make Papists of them, and to set them on a task of external formalities, or macerating their bodies with hurtful fastings, watchings and cold, as if self-murder were the highest pitch of Religion, and God had a pleasure to see his people Torment themselves! I confess it is very few that ever I knew to have erred far in Austere usage of their bodies: But some I