I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Are you therefore in an extraordinary case and strait? know that it is no sin now, to trust God for extraordinary mercy, help, and relief.

Are you therefore in an extraordinary case and streit? know that it is no sin now, to trust God for extraordinary mercy, help, and relief.

Seventhly: And if after all these things, your hearts fail you, and you would so trust in God, as that you may not be discouraged whatever your condition be; then ask thine own soul these Questions First: Whether there be any gain by doubting? whether there is any Spiritual gain to be made by doubting? Faith purifies the heart, but doth doubting purify the heart? Secondly: Whether there is any thing in all the World more pleasing to God, than to trust the Lord, in and by Jesus Christ, when all Comforts are out of view, and when you see nothing but what is contrary to the thing promised? Thirdly: Whether you must not venture upon Christ at the last? and if you must venture upon Christ at the last, why not now, as well as at the last? When a man comes to go over a River, though he ride once, and again into the Water, and comes out, saying, I fear it is too deep for me; yet considering that there is no other way for him, he resolves to venture; for saith he, the longer I stay, the higher the Waters will rise, and there is no other way for me, and I must through at the last, as good at the first, as at the last; and so he doth venture through, and is safe. Thus it is here. You must venture upon Christ at the last, there is no other way but venturing upon Jesus Christ, thou must do it at the last; and were it not as good for you to do it at the first, as at the last? Surely, the longer you stay, the harder you will find it to venture, and the more difficulties will arise upon the work of Believing. ⟨p. 347⟩You say now, O! but my heart is not humbled; O! but I am a great sinner, and should I venture upon Jesus Christ? But will thy heart be more humbled by keeping from Christ? and shalt thou be a less sinner by keeping from him? No certainly; but the longer you stay from Christ, the harder work it will be to venture upon Christ at the last. Wherefore, if there be ever a poor, drooping, doubting, fearing, trembling heart in all this Congregation, know, That I do here in the Name of the Lord, call out to you, and say, O soul, man or woman, Venture, venture, venture upon Christ now; for you must come to this venturing Work at the last, and if ever, it is true here, better at the first, than at the last. Must you not venture upon Christ at the last? and if at last, why not now? Thus ply, and follow your own souls with these three Questions. And