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

Thirdly: If a man, a gracious man, may have comfort; yea, and live comfortably, although he do want Assurance, then he hath no reason to be quite discouraged, in case he want it. Now, though it may seem a Paradox to you, yet you shall find a Truth in it; I say, a man that hath no Assurance for the present, may have Comfort; yea, he may live comfortably, if things be rightly ordered. For, He that hath no Assurance, may have Hope, and Hope is comfortable; He that hath no Assurance, may yet rely upon Jesus Christ, and stay his soul upon Christ; and in all reliance, there is some comfort. He that hath no Assurance, may be justified, and being justified by faith, we have peace with God. He that hath no Assurance, may submit unto Gods Commandments; and saith the Psalmist, The entrance into thy Commandments, giveth Light: and so Comfort. In keeping thy Commandments, there is great reward: and so Comfort.¹ It is a comfortable thing (saith Solomon) to behold the Light: and in all light, there is some Comfort. Now God is light, and the free Grace and Love of God is light, which a man may behold, that hath no Assurance, You do sometimes take a great deal of Contentment in the reading of a Story; I do not mean a Scripture Story, but in other Books, I say, a man sometimes takes a great deal of contentment in reading of a Story, although it doth not concern him; for, saith he, although this Story doth not concern me, yet I take a complacency, and contentment in the reading of it, because here I read of the Valour of such a man; and of the Faithfulness of such a man to his friend; and of the excellent Carriages ⟨p. 116⟩and Virtues of men. Now (my Beloved) is there no excellency in God himself to content the soul? Is there no Faithfulness in God? Is there no Love and Mercy in God himself? Is not the Lord, the God of all Consolation, and God of Mercy, without relation to my Condition? Is there not an Ocean of Excellent Love and Grace in God himself? How many sweet Stories of Love and Grace, may you read in this little Book of the Bible? Besides, a man that hath no Assurance, now and then may have some Promise thrown into his Soul, to uphold him with. When Elijah was by the Brook, and could not enjoy the ordinary meat of the Land, a Raven brought him meat: And when ever was any godly man in such a condition, but he had one Raven or other to bring him Comfort?