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

DOUBT XII.

Though God hath kept me from Gross sins, yet I find such a searedness of Conscience, and so little averseness from sin in my mind i• that I fear that I should Commit it if I lay under Temptations: and also that I should not hold out in Trial if I were called to suffer Death or any grievous Calamity. And that obedience which endureth merely for want of a Temptation, is no true Obedience.

THough God hath kept me from Gross sins, yet I finde such a searedness of Conscience, and so little aversness from sin in my minde i• that I fear that I should Commit it if I lay under Temptations: and also that I should not hold out in Tryal if I were called to suffer Death or any grievous Calamity. And that obedience which endureth meerly for want of a Temptation, is no true Obedience.

ANSWER.

1. I Have fully answered this before. If you can overcome the temptations of Prosperity, you have no cause to doubt distrustfully whether you shall overcome the temptations of Adversity: And if God give you Grace to avoid Temptations to sin, and fly occasions as much as you can, and to overcome them, where you cannot avoid them; you have little reason to distrust his preservation of you, and your steadfastness thereby, if you should be cast upon greater Temptations Indeed if you feel not such a Belief of the evil and danger of sinning, as to possess you with some sensible hatred of it, you have need to look to your heart for the strengthening of that Belief and Hatred: and fear your heart with a godly preserving Jealousy; but not with tormenting, disquieting doubts. Whatever your Passionate Hatred be, if you have a settled well-grounded Resolution, to walk in obedience to the death, you may confidently & comfortably trust him for your preservation, who gave you those resolutions.