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

Object. O! but yet this is not my case; I do not only want Assurance of Gods love; but I have Assurance of Gods displeasure: I do not only want Assurance of my Salvation, but I have Assurance of my damnation: I do not only want the testimony of the spirit, bearing witness with my spirit, that I am the child of God, but I have another testimony within my soul, bea•ing witness to me, that I am a reprobate: and have I not cause to be discouraged?

Answ. 1 No, not yet; for it may be you look upon the back-side of Gods dispensation: if we look upon the face of Gods dispensation we see his love; and good pleasure; but if we look on the backside thereof, we conclude nothing but anger, & displeasure. It may be, it is so with you in this case. But,

Answ. 2 Secondly, If you find no such testimony of reprobation, as you speak of in all the scripture; then you have no reason to fear, or to be discouraged in this respect; now search the scripture, and you shall not find in all the word, any ground for such a testimony of reprobation. We read, indeed, of Francis Spira, notorious for his despair; when his friends came to comfort him, having spake comfortable words unto him, That he said why go ye about to comfort me? comfort belongs not to me, for I am a reprobate. O! said one of his friends, do not say so, for none are able to say so, yes, said he, as the elect of God, have a spirit within them, bearing witness, that they are the children of God; so reprobates have another spirit, bearing witness with their spirits, that they are not the children of God, but the children of Satan; and such a spirit of reprobation have I. But my beloved, if there be such a spirit, or a testimony of reprobation as this is, either it must be, from the spirit of God, or from the spirit of Satan: if from the spirit of Satan, then he is a liar, not to be believed; if it be from the spirit of God, how doth it suit with the word? for the spirit of God, is called the Comforter; can such a spirit of reprobation come from the comforter? and if you have such a testimony as this is, either you must have it from the word, or from the spirit of God alone, without the word; if from the word, then from the threatening: for it is not from the promise, nor from the command: if from the threatening, a threatening may be repealed, a threatening, may be reversed, as you have heard, and if you have it from the spirit of the Lord, how can it be, that the spirit should be called a Comforter? surely therefore, if you have such a spirit of reprobation in your bosom, it is from Satan, and he is a Liar. But (my beloved) I will in this appeal to you, whether do you not think, that there is many a soul now in heaven, that whilst he