Sacramental meditations upon divers select places of scripture

First: Though there be remains of unbelief in you, yet you have infinite cause to bless God that they are but remains. You once were in unbelief 1 Tim. 1. 13. (i. e.) under the full power and dominion of it. Had God cut you off in that state, you mast certainly have perished. This is the disease, but that was the death of your souls.

Secondly: Though unbelief be in you, yet it is not in you per modum quietis; by way of rest, as it is in all unbelievers, but by way of daily conflict, and as a burden too heavy to be borne. Now though the sin be sad, yet the sorrow for it is sweet; and your conflicts with it brings you under a very comfortable sign of grace, Rom. 7. 21.

Thirdly: This is a disease under which all Christians do labour more or less. There is not a heart so holy in all the world, but is in some degree tainted and infected with this disease. And this hath been evident, not only in ⟨p. 144⟩all Christians of all sizes, but in all the acts of their faith. Jobs faith triumphed in cap. 13. 15. yet had its eclipse and fainting fit, in cap. 19. 20. Abraham was a most renowned Believer, a great pattern and example of faith; oh, how high a pitch did his faith mount to, in Gen. 22. 3. and yet there was a time when it fainted, and failed him as at Gerar. Gen. 20. 2, 9, 10, 11. David in Psal. 27. 1. 23