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

It is the nature of Grief to break out into tears most, when sorrow hath some vent, either when we use some expostulating aggravating terms with our selves, or when we are opening our hearts and case to a friend: then sorrow will often show it self, that did not before. 6. Yet do I not deny but that our want of Tears and tender Affections and heart-meltings, are our sins: For my part, I see exceeding Cause to bewail it greatly in my self, that my soul is not raised to a higher pitch of tender sensibility of all spiritual things, then it is: and I doubt not but it should be the matter of our daily confession and complaint to God, that our hearts are so dull and little affected with his sacred Truths, and our own sins: But this is the scope of all my Speech, Why do not you distinguish between. Matter of Sorrow and Matter of Doubting? No question but you should lament your dullness and stupidity, and use all Gods means for the quickening of your Affections, and to get the most lively frame of soul: but must it cause you to doubt of your sincerity when you cannot obtain this? Then will you never have a settled Peace or Assurance for many days together, for ought I know. I would ask you but this: Whether you are willing or unwilling ⟨p. 431⟩of all that hardness, insensibleness, and dullness which you complain of? If you are willing of it, what makes you complain of it? If you are unwilling, it seems your will is so far sound; and it is the Will that is the seat of the Life of Grace which we must try by: And was not Pauls Case the same with yours? Rom. 7.19. when he saith, The Good which I Would do, I do not? and; When I Would do Good, Evil is present with me. I know Paul speaks not of gross sins, but ordinary Infirmities: and I have told you before, that the Liveliness and Sensibility of the Passions or Affections, is a thing that the Will, though sanctified, cannot fully command or excite at its pleasure. A sanctified man cannot Grieve or Weep for sin when he will, or so much as he will: he cannot Love, Joy, be Zealous, &c. when he will: He may be truly Willing, and not Able: And is not this your Case? And doth not Paul make it the Case of all Christians? Gal. 5.17. The flesh lusteth, against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary one to the other, so that we cannot do the things that we would.