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

¹As for their own good: Thereby they do gain experience; thereby they come to see the emptiness, and nothingness, of all their own righteousness. David saith, (ye know the Scripture) Psal. 116. I said in my hast, all men are Liars. The words in the Hebrew, may be read, I said in my shaking; I said in my shaking, all men are Liars. David was shaken by men, and then he saw that men were Liars. So, when a man is shaken in his own righteousness, then he sees the emptiness, and the lying disposition of it; and, I pray, when is a mans own righteousness more shaken, than when he doth want assurance of Gods Love? Thereby also, a man comes to get more, and stronger assurance of Gods Love; Certissimum est, quod certum est post incertitudinem; That is most certain, that is certain after uncertainty: The shaken Tree grows the strongest. It is observed of Thomas, that of all the Apostles, he cried out, and said, My Lord, and My God. Two My's, not one My; My Lord, or My God: but two My's, My Lord, and My God. Two My's, Why? Because he had had two No's before, Unless I may put my finger into his side, I will not ⟨p. 115⟩believe. So you read it; but in the Original, there are two No's, I will not, not believe; a double Not. And as there was two No's of Unbelief, so there is two My's of Faith. So far as a good man is sunk in Unbelief, so far he will rise in Faith; so much as a man is shaken by Unbelief, and in the want of Assurance, so much he will rise unto Assurance, and be confirmed, and settled in it.

¹As for their own good: Thereby they do gain experience; thereby they come to see the emptiness, and nothingness, of all their own righteousness. David saith, (ye know the Scripture) Psal. 116. I said in my hast, all men are Lyers. The words in the Hebrew, may be read, I said in my shaking; I said in my shaking, all men are Lyers. David was shaken by men, and then he saw that men were Lyers. So, when a man is shaken in his own righteousness, then he sees the emptiness, and the lying disposition of it; and, I pray, when is a mans own righteousness more shaken, than when he doth want assurance of Gods Love? Thereby also, a man comes to get more, and stronger assurance of Gods Love; Certissimum est, quod certum est post incertitudinem; That is most certain, that is certain after uncertainty: The shaken Tree grows the strongest. It is observed of Thomas, that of all the Apostles, he cryed out, and said, My Lord, and My God. Two My's, not one My; My Lord, or My God: but two My's, My Lord, and My God. Two My's, Why? Because he had had two No's before, Ʋnless I may put my finger into his side, I will not