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

Sol. In Answer to this, consider;

1. It doth but seem so, that all Doubts are about our own Interest• but it is not so indeed. If once you were heartily persuaded of God's good Affection in Christ, Doubts and Scruples about our own Estate would soon vanish. Look as the Fire, when it is well kindled, bursts out of its own accord into a Flame; so if Faith were once well laid in the Soul, if Men could rest upon these two immutable things, Consolation would not be so far from them; if there were a firm Assent to the Doctrine of the Gospel, there would not be so many Buts: if you did firmly believe his Mercy in Christ, it would soon end in a steadfast Confidence. This appeareth from the nature of the thing. All Uncertainty ariseth either from a Neglect of the great Salvation, or else from Trouble of Conscience: Now carnal Men neglect it, because they are not persuaded of the Worth and Excellency of it; and Men under Horrors of Conscience distrust it, they are such Sinners they dare not apply it; and are so full of Doubts and Scruples, because they are not persuaded of the Truth of the Gospel. See how the Apostle proposeth the Gospel, 1 Tim. 1.•5. This is a faithful Saying, and worthy of all Acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the World to save Sinners, of whom I am chief. If negligent and carnal Men would but look upon it as worthy of all Acceptation, and troubled Conscience look upon it as a faithful Saying, there would be more regular Actings and Effects found in their Hearts and Lives; the Negligent would give more Diligence, and the Contrite would rise up into a greater Hope and Confidence. If Men did believe the Worth of Salvation, they would not run after lying Vanities: If they did believe the Truth of Salvation for Sinners, there would not be so many Scruples and Fears. It is notable, that the Scriptures very seldom do press Assurance of the Subject, but Assurance of the Object in very many places, to believe the Doctrine it self, for there is the greatest Difficulty; and in the Word of God we have no Precedent of any that were troubled about their own Interest. If an Earthly King should proclaim a general Pardon, and an Act of Grace to all Persons in Rebellion, only on terms of Submission, and laying down their Hostility, and returning to their Duty and Allegiance, the Doubt would not be of their own Interest, but of the truth of his Intention to show them such Grace and Mercy: