A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many useful questions and cases of conscience are…A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many usefull questions and cases of conscience are…

I shall now after all this, appeal to any tender conscience which is sadly and seriously searching it self, whether it be in the faith, whether Christ be in the soul and the soul in Christ, let any poor wearied soul which is longing and seeking after rest, refreshment, ease, peace comfort and assurance, judge and say whether it can possibly, or dare sit down satisfied with the Antinomian way of assurance, before largely declared, which yet hath been held forth by those of that stamp, as the only way to satisfy and assure the conscience, and to put an end to all objections. I begin to hear as it were sounding in mine ears ⟨p. 266⟩the sad lamentation of a poor soul which hath gone along with their way of comfort, and assurance, and hath followed it to the utmost, as far as it will go.

I shall now after all this, appeall to any tender conscience which is sadly and seriously searching it self, whether it be in the faith, whether Christ be in the soul and the soul in Christ, let any poor wearied soul which is longing and seeking after rest, refreshment, ease, peace comfort and assurance, judge and say whether it can possibly, or dare sit down satisfied with the Antinomian way of assurance, before largely declared, which yet hath been held foorth by those of that stamp, as the only way to satisfie and assure the conscience, and to put an end to all objections. I begin to hear as it were sounding in mine ears ⟨p. 266⟩the sad lamentation of a poor soule which hath gone along with their way of comfort, and assurance, and hath followed it to the utmost, as far as it will go.

Oh (saith the soul) I have applied my self to search and find out, and to be clearly resolved in this great and tender point, whether I be in Christ or not? whether I have passed from death to life, from the state of nature into the state of grace, or not? whether I be acquit from the curse and condemnation of the Law, and my sins pardoned, or not? when, O when shall I be truly, clearly, and certainly resolved in this thing? Tis as darkness and death to me, to be unresolved and unsatisfied in it. I refused to be comforted without this comfort. Is id, go to now and prove & see this Antinomian way, and when I had proved it, I communed with mine own heart, and my spirit made diligent search. Then said I of it, thou art madness and folly. Their doctrine pretendeth to drop as the honey comb, yet at the last it byteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an Adder, I find their words at first to be soft as oil and butter, yet I find them at last as swords and spears to my perplexed heart. I am forbidden to try my spiritual condition, or to seek after assurance of my interest in Christ, by any mark or fruit of sanctification, be it sincerity of heart, hatred of sin, love to the Brethren, or be what it will be: I am told it is unsafe and dangerous for me to adventure upon any such marks; I do not mean as causes, conditions, or any way instrumental in my justification, (for in that consideration I have ever disclaimed my graces) nay I do not mean of any comfort or assurance by my sanctification, otherwise then as it flows from Christ, who is made unto me of God sanctification as well as righteousness. But I am told by these Antinomians, that even in the point of consolation and assurance, tis not safe for me to reason and conclude from the fruit to the tree, from the light to the sun,