A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…

4. You must distinguish between those Christians that by misapprehensions are unacquainted with their own felicity, and those that better understand their state. If a man be never so holy, and know it not, but by temptations is brought to doubt, whether he be not yet in his unsanctified state, no wonder if this man be grieved with these fears. But his grief is not because he is sanctified, but because he is afraid lest he be unsanctified. And this shows that Holiness is most lovely in his eyes: or else why should he be so much troubled, when he doth but doubt whether he be Holy or not? If a Rich man by a false report should believe that he is robbed of his goods and treasure, or that his houses are burnt, when it is not so, he will mourn or be troubled till he know the truth. And will any be so foolish as to conclude from thence, that Riches are more uncomfortable then beggary? Had you not rather be rich, though for a time you know it not, then to live in certain continual want? If a man that is in health, be persuaded by mistake that he is in a Consumption, he will be troubled by his mistake: But will you thence conclude that sickness is more comfortable then health? Is it not better to have health with those mistaken fears, then to live in sickness? Methinks you should rather argue on the contrary side, [How sweet is Health, when the fear of losing it is so troublesome? and how bitter is sickness and death, when the very fear of them is so grievous?] And so you should say, [How sweet is Holiness, when it is so troublesome to those that have it, so much as to fear lest they have it not? and How miserable a life is it to be ungodly, when it is so grievous to the servants of Christ, even once to fear lest they are ungodly?]

4. You must distinguish between those Christians that by misapprehensions are unacquainted with their own felicity, and those that better understand their state. If a man be never so holy, and know it not, but by temptations is brought to doubt, whether he be not yet in his unsanctified state, no wonder if this man be grieved with these fears. But his grief is not because he is sanctified, but because he is afraid lest he be unsanctified. And this shews that Holiness is most lovely in his eyes: or else why should he be so much troubled, when he doth but doubt whether he be Holy or not? If a Rich man by a false report should believe that he is rob'd of his goods and treasure, or that his houses are burnt, when it is not so, he will mourn or be troubled till he know the truth. And will any be so foolish as to conclude from thence, that Riches are more uncomfortable then beggery? Had you not rather be rich, though for a time you know it not, then to live in certain continual want? If a man that is in health, be perswaded by mistake that he is in a Consumption, he will be troubled by his mistake: But will you thence conclude that sickness is more comfortable then health? Is it not better to have health with those mistaken fears, then to live in sickness? Methinks you should rather argue on the contrary side, [How sweet is Health, when the fear of losing it is so troublesom? and how bitter is sickness and death, when the very fear of them is so grievous?] And so you should say, [How sweet is Holiness, when it is so troublesome to those that have it, so much as to fear lest they have it not? and How miserable a life is it to be ungodly, when it is so grievous to the servants of Christ, even once to fear lest they are ungodly?]