Sacramental meditations upon divers select places of scripture

(2.) The multitudes of mistakes and cheats that are frequently committed and found in this matter, makes upright hearts the more suspicious and doubtful of their own conditions. O, when they read Matth. 7. 22. that many will say to Christ in that day, Lord, Lord, we have Prophesied in thy Name, &c. It scares them lest they also be deceived.

(3.) The grand importance of the matter makes poor souls fearful of concluding certainly about it. O, when a man considers that the whole weight of his eternal happiness or misery depends upon the resolution of these Questions: Am I in Christ? or am I not? It will mak• him tremble to determine. In a word, assurance is not in our power, or at our command. There be many holy humble, diligent, and longing souls, to whom it is denied. It is arbitrarily dispensed by the pleasure of the spirit, to whom he will, and such favours are rare ⟨p. 202⟩even among true believers, the more therefore it is to be valued and desired by all, as the Spouse doth in this place: And so much to the first thing. Upon what account the assurance of Christs love is so desirable in the eyes of Christians.

(3.) The grand importance of the matter makes poor souls fearful of concluding certainly about it. O, when a man considers that the whole weight of his eternal happiness or misery depends upon the resolution of these Questions: Am I in Christ? or am I not? It will mak• him tremble to determine. In a word, assurance is not in our power, or at our command. There be many holy humble, diligent, and longing souls, to whom it is denied. It is arbitrarily dispensed by the pleasure of the spirit, to whom he will, and such favours are rare ⟨p. 202⟩even among true believers, the more therefore it is to be valued and desired by all, as the Spouse doth in this place: And so much to the first thing. Upon what account the assurance of Christs love is so desirable in the eyes of Chrians.