Gospel reconciliation, or, Christ's trumpet of peace to the world

Object. I, but you will say here is the evil, That upon my loose walking I cannot think that ever things were in truth; that I was truly converted.

Object. I, but you wil say here is the evil, That upon my loose walking I cannot think that ever things were in truth; that I was truly converted.

Answ. To that I answer but these two things. First, that if thou canst but be able to say thus in the presence of God; the Lord knows that there is no weapon of enmity in my heart that is against God; that God reveals unto me to be a sin, but I know my heart is against it; I can appeal to God so, and there is no duty that God requires of me, but I know my heart is with it, if the Lord will but reveal to me. Now in this case, having before felt the work of God drawing thee to Christ, and if thy heart be thus kept to God: this is one good Argument that certainly God, and thou are not enemies.

Answ. To that I answer but these two things. First, that if thou canst but be able to say thus in the presence of God; the Lord knows that there is no weapon of enmity in my heart that is against God; that God reveals unto me to be a sin, but I know my heart is against it; I can appeal to God so, and there is no duty that God requires of me, but I know my heart is with it, if the Lord wil but reveal to me. Now in this case, having before felt the work of God drawing thee to Christ, and if thy heart be thus kept to God: this is one good Argument that certainly God, and thou are not enemies.

Secondly, if thou canst but say thus; there is no Argument that is so prevalent with me to make me not sin as this; for fear of breaking peace between God and me; this is the thing that makes my sin sting my Soul indeed: because by that I come to lose some of that sweetness of the assurance of my peace with God. Canst thou say so? keep thy heart but in such a frame (though thou hast many weaknesses) that thou canst say; whatsoever sin the Lord reveals to me yet my heart is against it, and whatsoever duty the Lord requires of me yet I know my heart is with it, and if there be any thing that I do not know, Oh! that I knew it more and more, and there is nothing that I fear sin for so much as this, because that I see it breaks the peace between God and my Soul. Is it so with thy poor soul? I pronounce in the name of God Peace be unto thee. Though thy heart be not as thou wouldst have it, thou