2. Another Cause of uncomfortable living is,1 That Christians look more at their present Cause of Comfort or Discomfort, ⟨p. 404⟩then they do at their Future Happiness,2 and the way to attain it. They look after Signs which may tell them what they are, more then they do at Precepts which tell them what they should do. They are very desirous to know whether they are Justified and beloved or not; but they do not think what course they should take to be Justified, if they be not. As if their present Case must needs be their Everlasting Case; and if they be now unpardoned, there were no Remedy. Why I beseech thee consider this, Oh doubting Soul: What if all were as b•d as thou dost fear? and none of thy sins were yet pardoned? Is not the Remedy at hand? May not all this be done in a moment? Dost thou not know that thou mayst have Christ and pardon when ever thou wilt? Call not this a loose or strange doctrine. Christ is willing if thou be willing. He offereth himself and all his benefits to thee: He presseth them on thee, and urgeth thee to accept them: He will condemn thee and destroy thee if thou wilt not accept them. Why dost thou therefore stand whining and complaining that thou art not Pardoned and Adopted, when thou shouldst take them being offered thee? Were he not mad that would lie weeping and wringing his hands, because he is not pardoned, when his Prince stands by all the while offering him a pardon, and entreating; and threatening, and persuading, and correcting him, and all to make him take it? What would you say to such a man? Would you not chide him for his folly, and say, If thou wouldst have Pardon and Life, why dost thou not take it? Why then do you not say the like to your selves? Know ye not that Pardon and Adoption are offered you only on the Condition of your Believing? And this Believing is nothing else but the Accepting of Christ for thy Lord and Saviour, as he is offered to thee with his benefits in the Gospel: And this Accepting is principally (if not only) the Act of thy Will. So that if thou be willing to have Christ upon his own terms, that is, to Save and Rule thee, then thou art a Believer: Thy willingness is thy Faith. And if thou have Faith, thou hast the surest of all Evidences. Justifying Faith is not thy Persuasion of Gods special Love to thee, or of thy Justification; but thy Accepting Christ to make thee Just and Lovely.
2. ANother Cause of uncomfortable living is,1 That Christians look more at their present Cause of Comfort or Discomfort, ⟨p. 404⟩then they do at their Future Happiness,2 and the way to attain it. They look af•er Signs which may tell th•m what they are, more then they do at P•ecepts which tell them what they should do. They are very desirous to know whether they are Justified and beloved or not; but they do not think what course they should take to be Justified, if they be not. As if their present Case must needs be their Everlasting Case; and if they be now unpardoned, there were no Remedy. Why I beseech thee consider this, Oh doubting Soul: What if all were as b•d as thou dost fear? and none of thy sins were yet pardoned? Is not the Remedy at hand? May not all this be done in a moment? Dost thou not know that thou mayst have Christ and pardon when ever thou wilt? Call not this a loose or strange doctrine. Christ is willing if thou be willing. He offereth himself and all his benefits to thee: He presseth them on thee, and urgeth thee to accept them: He will condemn thee and destroy thee if thou wilt not accept them. Why dost thou therefore stand whining and complaining that thou art not Pardoned and Adopted, when thou shouldst take them being offered thee? Were he not mad that would lie weeping and wringing his hands, because he is not pardoned, when his Prince stands by all the while offering him a pardon, and intreating; and threatning, and perswading, and correcting him, and all to make him take it? What would you say to such a man? Would you not chide him for his folly, and say, If thou wouldst have Pardon and Life, why dost thou not take it? Why then do you not say the like to your selves? Know ye not that Pardon and Adoption are offered you only on the Condition of your Believing? And this Believing is nothing else but the Accepting of Christ for thy Lord and Saviour, as he is offered to thee with his benefits in the Gospel: And this Accepting is principally (if not only) the Act of thy Will. So that if thou be willing to have Christ upon his own terms, that is, to Save and Rule thee, then thou art a Believer: Thy willingness is thy Faith. And if thou have Faith, thou hast the surest of all Evidences. Justifying Faith is not thy Perswasion of Gods special Love to thee, or of thy Justification; but thy Accepting Christ to make thee Just and Lovely.
- 1§. 11.
- 2You sit poring • searching for pillars of hope within you, & be-bestow much pains to answer your own fears, but the ready way to make the business clear is by going to Christ. Stand not so much upon this Question, Whether you have believ'd in truth or no; but put all out of doubt by a present faith. The door is open; enter & live: You may more easily build a new fabric of comfort, by […], then repair your old dwelling, and clear all suits that are brought against your tenure. Simonds Deserted Soul. pag. 554.You sit poreing • searching for pillers of hope within you, & be-bestow much pains to answer your own fears, but the ready way to make the business clear is by going to Christ. Stand not so much upon this Question, Whether you have believ'd in truth or no; but put al out of doubt by a present faith. The door is open; enter & live: You may more easily build a new fabrick of comfort, by 〈…〉, then repair your old dw•lling, and clear all suits that are brought against your tenure. Simonds Deserted Soul. pag. 554.
