1. Canst thou say, thou art already certain of thy eternal blessedness? Art thou so sure, that thou needest not enquire. I know not who thou art that now readest these lines, ⟨p. 253⟩and therefore cannot judg of thy confidence, whether it be right or wrong; only that thou mayest not answer too hastily, consider a little; that certainty of salvation is no common thing: 1not among (I speak you see of subjective certainty) the heirs of salvation themselves. How many of Gods holy ones, that cannot say they are certain, yea how few, that can say they are? That exhortation to a Church of Saints, Work out your salvation with fear and trembling (they of whom he expresseth such confidence, Chap. 1. 6. over whom he so glories, Chap. 4. 1.) implies this to be no common thing. So doth Christs advice to his Disciples, Strive to enter in at the strait gate; and St. Peters to the scattered Jews (that he saith had obtained like precious faith, &c.) give diligence to make your calling and election sure, with many more passages of like import. Yea, how full is the Scripture of the complaints of such crying out of broken bones, of festering wounds, of distraction by divine terrors. Now what shall we say in this case, when so eminent Saints have left us Records of the distresses and agonies of their Spirits, under the apprehended displeasure of God; may it not occasion us to suspend a while, and consider; have we much more reason to be confident then they? And do we know none that lead stricter, and more holy lives then we, that, are yet in the dark, and at a loss in judging their Spiritual states? I will not say that we must therefore think our selves bound to doubt, because another possibly ⟨p. 254⟩ter then we doth so. Unknown accidents may much vary the cases. But, who would not think that reason, and modesty had quite forsaken the world, to hear (where the odds is so vastly great) the vain boasts of the loose generality, compared with the humble, solicitous doubts of many serious knowing Christians? To see such trembling about their soul concernments, who have walked with God, and served him long in prayers, and tears; when multitudes that have nothing whereon to bottom a confidence, but Pride, and Ignorance; shall pretend themselves certain! If, drawing breath a while, thou wilt suspect thou have reason not to be peremptory in thy confidence;
1. Canst thou say, thou art already certain of thy eternal blessedness? Art thou so sure, that thou need'st not enquire. I know not who thou art that now readest these lines, ⟨p. 253⟩and therefore cannot judg of thy confidence, whether it be right or wrong; onely that thou may'st not answer too hastily, consider a little; that certainty of salvation is no common thing: 1not among (I speak you see of subjective certainty) the heirs of salvation themselves. How many of Gods holy ones, that cannot say they are certain, yea how few, that can say they are? That exhortation to a Church of Saints, Work out your salvation with fear and trembling (they of whom he expresseth such confidence, Chap. 1. 6. over whom he so glories, Chap. 4. 1.) implyes this to be no common thing. So doth Christs advice to his Disciples, Strive to enter in at the strait gate; and St. Peters to the scattered Jews (that he saith had obtained like precious faith, &c.) give diligence to make your calling and election sure, with many more passages of like import. Yea, how full is the Scripture of the complaints of such crying out of broken bones, of festering wounds, of distraction by divine terrours. Now what shall we say in this case, when so eminent Saints have left us Records of the distresses and agonies of their Spirits, under the apprehended displeasure of God; may it not occasion us to suspend a while, and consider; have we much more reason to be confident then they? And do we know none that lead stricter, and more holy lives then we, that, are yet in the dark, and at a losse in judging their Spiritual states? I will not say that we must therefore think our selves bound to doubt, because another possibly ⟨p. 254⟩ter then we doth so. Unknown accidents may much vary the cases. But, who would not think that reason, and modesty had quite forsaken the world, to hear (where the odds is so vastly great) the vain boasts of the loose generality, compared with the humble, solicitous doubts of many serious knowing Christians? To see such trembling about their soul concernments, who have walk't with God, and served him long in prayers, and tears; when multitudes that have nothing whereon to bottom a confidence, but Pride, and Ignorance; shall pretend themselves certain! If, drawing breath a while, thou wilt suspect thou have reason not to be peremptory in thy confidence;
- 1Phil. 2. 12.
