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

Answ. 3 Thirdly: Take heed that you be not discontented with your Condition; Discontentment, breeds Discouragement: But doest thou want the Assurance of Gods Love? Say thus with thine own soul; However it be, yet will I wait on God, when the Lord pleaseth he will give me Assurance; I will only labour to be contented with my condition. But if ye be discontented, ye will certainly be discouraged.

Answ. 3 Thirdly: Take heed that you be not discontented with your Condition; Discontentment, breeds Discouragement: But doest thou want the Assurance of Gods Love? Say thus with thine own soul; However it be, yet wil I wait on God, when the Lord pleaseth he will give me Assurance; I will only labor to be contented with my condition. But if ye be discontented, ye wil certainly be discouraged.

Answ. 4 Fourthly: If you do want Assurance of Gods Love, and of your own Salvation, Take heed that you do not say, I shall never be Assured; take heed you do not say, I shall never have a Promise; take heed you do not say, I shall never be Comforted; take heed you do not say, I shall never have the Testimony of the Spirit, bearing witness with my Spirit, that I am the Child of God; do not say thus, I shall never be helped, I am in a sad condition, and I shall never be better; I am in an uncomfortable condition, and I shall never be comforted; I want Assurance, and I shall never have Assurance. Beloved! this ye cannot say, for who knows what God will do, whose ways are in the deep, and whose foot-steps are not known? You know how it is with a sick person; If the Physician come, and tells him, there is hope of life, then ⟨p. 130⟩his heart dies not; but if the Physician saith to him, Sir, you are in a great and dangerous Fever, and I would wish you to settle your Estate, and look out for comfort for your soul, for the truth is, you will never be recovered; then his heart dies. So here, take a poor soul that wants Assurance, If he saith, there is hope that I may be assured, he is not discouraged: but if he saith, I have no Assurance, and I shall never have it, then he is quite discouraged; it is this word, Never, that doth discourage: O! I shall never be encouraged, and I shall never have Assurance, and I shall never have the Testimony of Gods Spirit. Take heed that you do not say, I shall never be Assured, that is a Temptation; take heed of the word Never, in this case.