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

And thus when Christianity seems a Thr•• dom and Torment: and the service of the world, the flesh and the Devil, seems the only freedom, and quiet and delight, no wonder if the Devil have more unfeigned servants then Christ; and if men tremble at the name of Holiness, and fly away from Religion as a Mischief. What can be more contrary to its nature, and to Gods design in forming it, then for the Professors to live such dejected and dolorous lives? God calls men from Vexation and Vanity, to high Delights and Peace! And men come to ⟨p. 532⟩God as from Peace and Pleasure, to Vexation. All our preaching will do little to win souls from Sensuality to Holiness, while they look upon the sad lives of the Professors of Holiness; As it will more deter a sick man from meddling with a Physician, to see all that he hath had in hand to lie languishing in continual pains to their death, then all his words and promises will encourage them. O what blessed lives might Gods people live, if they understood the love of God in the mystery of mans Redemption; and did addict themselves to the consideration and improvement of it, and did believingly eye the promised Glory, and hereupon did make it the business of their lives, to Delight their souls in him that hath Loved them! And what a wonderful success might we expect to our Preaching, if the Holy Delights and Cheerful Obedience of the Saints did preach as clearly to the eyes of the world, as we preach loudly to their ears?

And thus when Christianity seems a Thr•• dom and Torment: and the service of the world, the flesh and the Devil, seems the onely freedom, and quiet and delight, no wonder if the Devil have more unfeigned servants then Christ; and if men tremble at the name of Holiness, and fly away from Religion as a Mischief. What can be more contrary to its nature, and to Gods design in forming it, then for the Professors to live such dejected and dolorous lives? God calls men from Vexation and Vanity, to high Delights and Peace! And men come to ⟨p. 532⟩God as from Peace and Pleasure, to Vexation. All our preaching will do little to win souls from Sensuality to Holiness, while they look upon the sad lives of the Professors of Holiness; As it will more deter a sick man from medling with a Physician, to see all that he hath had in hand to lie languishing in continual pains to their death, then all his words and promises will encourage them. O what blessed lives might Gods people live, if they understood the love of God in the mysterie of mans Redemption; and did addict themselves to the consideration and improvement of it, and did believingly eye the promised Glory, and hereupon did make it the business of their lives, to Delight their souls in him that hath Loved them! And what a wonderful success might we expect to our Preaching, if the Holy Delights and Chearful Obedience of the Saints did preach as clearly to the eyes of the world, as we preach loudly to their ears?