A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

6. Another Cause why those that are touched with a sense of Sin, suspect God's good Affection, is a Jealousy of Assurance, or a secret fear of presuming. All the Doubts and Scruples of a troubled Conscience come to this Issue, and may all be referred to this Head, a fear of presuming. Many will plead the number of their Sins, and how many Affronts they have put upon the Grace or God. Some will plead the Greatness and the Aggravations of their Sins, Relapses into Sin, Sins against Light, against the Advantages of Grace; but they all end in this one thing, a fear of being too bold with the Comforts of the Gospel, and that Comfort doth not belong to Persons in their case. This is the Cable-Rope which keeps them from floating out amain upon the Ocean of God's Mercy, as if the Lord delighted in their Grief rather than in their Assurance and Satisfaction. Usually thus it is with disturbed Consciences. Trouble that is once swallowed, is hardly got up again; and Men think Sadness is more pleasing to God than Comfort; and that Doubts suit with a Christian Frame rather than Confidence; and so they hug a Distemper instead of a Duty. Therefore the Lord is fain to swear that certain it is. Nay, it is not for nothing that this makes the Heart of Christ so joyful, that we live upon the Provision he hath made for us; John 15.11. These things have I spoken unto you, that my Joy might remain in you, and that your Joy might be full. This is the very Aim of God's Oath, he would show (as I shall further clear by and by) that our Assurance is more pleasing to him than our Doubting; that he is better pleased with our Comfort, nay, tho it rise up to strong Comfort, than with our Sorrow. Thus you see that Diffidence and Incredulity is deeply rooted in our Nature; yea Believers themselves are liable to many Doubts, out of the Relics of Atheism and Unbelief that yet remains in them.

6. Another Cause why those that are touched with a sense of Sin, suspect God's good Affection, is a Jealousy of Assurance, or a secret fear of presuming. All the Doubts and Scruples of a troubled Conscience come to this Issue, and may all be referred to this Head, a fear of presuming. Many will plead the number of their Sins, and how many Affronts they have put upon the Grace or God. Some will plead the Greatness and the Aggravations of their Sins, Relapses into Sin, Sins against Light, against the Advantages of Grace; but they all end in this one thing, a fear of being too bold with the Comforts of the Gospel, and that Comfort doth not belong to Persons in their case. This is the Cable-Rope which keeps them from floating out amain upon the Ocean of God's Mercy, as if the Lord delighted in their Grief rather than in their Assurance and Satisfaction. Usually thus it is with disturbed Consciences. Trouble that is once swallowed, is hardly got up again; and Men think Sadness is more pleasing to God than Comfort; and that Doubts sute with a Christian Frame rather than Confidence; and so they hug a Distemper instead of a Duty. Therefore the Lord is fain to swear that certain it is. Nay, it is not for nothing that this makes the Heart of Christ so joyful, that we live upon the Provision he hath made for us;