A27009:524
The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32…
The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32 directions : written for the use of a troubled friend / and now published by Richard Baxter ...
London: printed for T. Underhil, 1653
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
DIRECTION XXIX.
29. Be sure you forget not to distinguish between Causes of Doubting of your sincerity, and causes of mere Humiliation, Repentance and Amendment: And do not raise Doubtings and Fears, where God calleth you but to Humiliation, Amendment, and fresh recourse to Christ.
29. Be sure you forget not to distinguish between Causes of Doubting of your sincerity, and causes of meer Humiliation, Repentance and Amendment: And do not raise Doubtings and Fears, where God calleth you but to Humiliation, Amendment, and fresh recourse to Christ.
This Rule is of so great moment to your peace, that you will have daily use for it and can never maintain any true settled peace without the practice of it. What more common then for poor Christians to pour out ⟨p. 404⟩a multitude of complaints of their weaknesses, and wants, and miscarriages; and never consider all the while that there may be cause of sorrow in these, when yet there is no cause of doubting of their sincerity. I have showed before, that in gross falls and great backslidings, Doubtings will arise, and sometime our fears and jealousies may not be without cause; But it is not ordinary infirmities, nor every sin which might have been avoided, that is just cause of Doubting. Nay your very Humiliation must no further be endeavoured then it tends to your Recovery, and to the honouring of mercy: For it is possible that you may exceed in the measure of your Griefs. You must therefore first be resolved wherein the Truth of saving Grace doth consist, and then in all your failings and weaknesses first know, whether they contradict sincerity it self and are such as may give just cause to question your sincerity: If they be not (as the ordinary infirmities of Believers are not) then you may and must be humbled for them, but you may not Doubt of your Salvation for them. I told you before by what marks you may discern your sincerity, that is, wherein the nature of saving faith and holiness doth consist: Keep that in your eye: and as long as you find that sure and clear, let nothing