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

Answ. Yes: For though there be much evil in this traversing up and ⟨p. 29⟩down,¹ yet in the Saints there is still a mixture of some Grace withal, some Grace mixed with their discouragements. Take the Saints and people of God, and though they be much discouraged and cast down, yet still they mourn after God, and though they cannot wait so patiently as they would, yet they say in truth, if they did but know that God would come at last, they would wait all their lives, here is Grace; and though they cannot mourn for sins past, for which they are most disquieted, yet they dare not put forth their hand willingly unto any sin present. I have read of one that was so troubled and cast down, that he said and thought, I find so little comfort in my soul, that I would willingly suffer my body to live in burning fire until Christs coming, so that I might but have the assurance of Gods love and favour, and though I am persuaded I shall go to hell, yet my hope is, that my pains here will be mitigated there, in all which trouble (saith my author) nothing in the world could persuade him to do any thing willingly that was displeasing to God; this man was at the last comforted, and then he would often say, the Devil took advantage of my sorrow for evil things, to make me unthankful for good things. But I speak this to show, that the Saints are never so discouraged,² but still there is a Grace that is mixed withal, they dare not sin. Yea and though by their very discouragements, they do sin against the Gospel in unbelief, yet by the same discouragements they are kept from their sins against the law, these discouragements being as the lees that do keep the wines.

Answ. Yes: For though there be much evil in this traversing up and ⟨p. 29⟩down,¹ yet in the Saints there is still a mixture of some Grace withal, some Grace mixed with their discouragements. Take the Saints and people of God, and though they be much discouraged and cast down, yet stil they mourn after God, and though they cannot wait so patiently as they would, yet they say in truth, if they did but know that God would come at last, they would wait al their lives, here is Grace; and though they cannot mourn for sins past, for which they are most disquieted, yet they dare not put forth their hand willingly unto any sin present. I have read of one that was so troubled and cast down, that he said and thought, I find so little comfort in my soul, that I would willingly suffer my body to live in burning fire until Christs coming, so that I might but have the assurance of Gods love and favor, and though I am perswaded I shal go to hel, yet my hope is, that my paines here wil be mitigated there, in al which trouble (saith my author) nothing in the world could perswade him to do any thing willingly that was displeasing to God; this man was at the last comforted, and then he would often say, the Devil took advantage of my sorrow for evil things, to make me unthankful for good things. But I speak this to shew, that the Saints are never so discouraged,