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

Many more Texts might be named (and perhaps it would not be lost labour) which Troubled Souls do mis-understand and misapply: but it would make this Writing tedious, which is already swelled so far beyond my first intention.

Many more Texts might be named (and perhaps it would not be lost labour) which Troubled Souls do mis-understand and misapply: but it would make this Writing tedious, which is already swell'd so far beyond my first intention.

2. The second Enemy of your Peace here mentioned, is, Mis-understanding and misapplying Passages of Providence. Nothing more common with Troubled souls, then upon every new Cross and Affliction that befalls them, presently to think, God takes them for Hypocrites! and to question their sincerity! As if David and Job had not left them a full warning against this Temptation. Do you lose your Goods? so did Job. Do you lose your Children? so did Job: and that in no very Comfortable way. Do you lose your Health? so did Job. What if your godly friends should come about you in this Case, and bend all their wits and speeches to persuade you that you are but an Hypocrite? as Jobs friends did by him? Would not this put you harder to it? Yet could Job resolve, I will not let go mine Integrity till I dye. I know Gods Chastisements are all Paternal Punishments: and that Christians should search and try their hearts and ways at such times; but not conclude that they are Graceless ever the more for being Afflicted, seeing God chasteneth every son whom he receiveth, Heb. 12.6, 7. And in searching after sin it self in your Afflictions, be sure that you make the Word, and not your sufferings, the Rule to discover how far you have sinned; and let Afflictions only quicken you ⟨p. 391⟩to try by the Word. How many a Soul have I known that by mis-interpreting Providences, have in a blind Jealousy been termed quite from Truth and Duty, supposing it had been error and sin? and all because of their Afflictions? As a foolish man in his sickness accuseth the last meat that he ate before he fell sick, though it might be the wholesomest that ever he ate, and the disease may have many Causes which he is Ignorant of. One man being sick, a busy seducing Papist comes to him (for it is their use to take such opportunities) and tells him, It is Gods hand upon you for forsaking or straying from the Roman Catholic Church; and God hath sent this Affliction to bring you home: all your Ancestors lived and dyed in this Church, and so must you if ever you will be saved. The poor Jealous affrighted sinner hearing this, and through his Ignorance being unable to answer him, thinks it is even true, and presently turns Papist. In the same manner do most other Sects. How many have the Antin mians and Anabaptists thus seduced?