An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

In the third place, Our disquietness doth many times arise from the relics of original corruption within us. The godly they find many sad discoveries and workings of the root of corruption within them: They find that their hearts are not in such an uniform and heavenly way, as they desire; they often come short of what they endeavour after. And seeing themselves ⟨p. 114⟩thus foiled often by their lusts, they begin to be full of fears, and of all doubts; they question their own sincerity, and what Rock they are built upon; hereupon they are pierced through with many wounding apprehensions; and have no rest in their bones; but when this peace from God, doth begin to stir in their hearts, then all these fears vanish: They see peace with God, and remainders of corruption may stand together, so long as they do not make provision for the flesh, or give themselves up to sin willingly, but are captivated therein, so long Gods favour and love is not removed from them. This peace (they now see) is not bottomed upon a pure and perfect heart, free from any evil at all; for then no David, nor Paul, could have peace, but from the grace of God through Christ, mercifully forgiving those failings and imperfections which we are burdened with.

In the third place, Our disquietnesse doth many times arise from the reliques of original corruption within us. The godly they find many sad discoveries and workings of the root of corruption within them: They find that their hearts are not in such an uniform and heavenly way, as they desire; they often come short of what they endeavour after. And seeing themselves ⟨p. 114⟩thus foiled often by their lusts, they begin to be full of fears, and of all doubts; they question their own sincerity, and what Rock they are built upon; hereupon they are pierced thorow with many wounding apprehensions; and have no rest in their bones; but when this peace from God, doth begin to stirre in their hearts, then all these fears vanish: They see peace with God, and remainders of corruption may stand together, so long as they do not make provision for the flesh, or give themselves up to sinne willingly, but are captivated therein, so long Gods favour and love is not removed from them. This peace (they now see) is not bottomed upon a pure and perfect heart, free from any evil at all; for then no David, nor Paul, could have peace, but from the grace of God through Christ, mercifully forgiving those failings and imperfections which we are burdened with.