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

32. As ever you would live in Peace and Comfort, and well-pleasing unto God, be sure that you understand and deeply consider wherein the height of a Christian life, and the greatest part of our Duty doth consist; To wit, In a loving Delight in God, and a Thankful and Cheerful Obedience to his Will: And then make this your Constant aim; and be still aspiring after it, and let all other affections and endeavours be subservient unto this.

32. As ever you would live in Peace and Comfort, and well-pleasing unto God, be sure that you understand and deeply consider wherein the height of a Christian life, and the greatest part of our Duty doth consist; To wit, In a loving Delight in God, and a Thankful and Chearful Obedience to his Will: And then make this your Constant aim; and be still aspiring after it, and let all other affections and endeavours be subservient unto this.

This one Rule well practised, would do wonders on the souls of poor Christians, in dispelling all their fears and troubles, and helping not only to a settled Peace, but to live in the most comfortable state that can be expected upon earth. Write therefore these two or three words deep in your understandings and Memory; that the life which ⟨p. 524⟩God is best pleased with, and we should be always endeavouring, is, A Loving Delight in God through Christ; and a thankful and cheerful obedience to him. I do not say, that godly sorrows, and fears, and jealousies, are no Duties: but these are the great Duties, to which the rest should all subserve. Misapprehending the state of Duty and the very Nature of a Christian life must needs make sad distempers in mens hearts and conversations. Many Christians look upon Broken-heartedness, and much grieving and weeping for sin, as if it were the great thing that God Delighteth in and requireth of them: and therefore they bend all their endeavours this way; and are still striving with their hearts to break them more, and wringing their Consciences to squeeze out some tears; and they think no Sermon, no Prayer, no Meditation speeds so well with them, as that which can help them to grieve or weep. I am far from persuading men against Humiliation & Godly sorrow and tenderness of heart: But yet I must tell you, that this is a sore error that you lay so much upon it, and so much overlook that great and noble work and state to which it tendeth. Do you think that God hath any Pleasure in your sorrows as such? Doth it do him Good to see you dejected, afflicted and tormented? Alas, it is only as