Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

The first is taken out of Rom. 8. 15. yea have not received the spirit of bondage to fear again, but the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abb• Father. Thou hast found thy self before to have bin in an estate of bondage, as those believing Romans there, who were accepted in an estate of fear and bondage under the curse of the Law and condemnation, even in despair of themselves, the spirit of Bondage for that time shows us the law that condemns us and makes it to triumph over a man so long as it lasts, try therefore if thou hast felt thy conscience set on thee, and found thy self to be condemned for thy sins. Thus all Gods children truly converted indeed have felt, though some more, some less, and lien under it some a longer, some a shorter time; if thy soul have drooped, been afraid to be utterly cast away, if thou hast found thy self in a lost estate then is thy case good, for this goes always before that insulting faith, that triumphs against all condemnation. If thou hast not found this, but hast gotten faith without it, then dost thou speak peace to thy self, before God speaks it, and it is all one as if the Israelites should have looked up to the brazen serpent, before they had been bitten with the fiery serpent in the wilderness: who had been never the better, not finding indeed the need thereof, as those that are stung and troubled with fin do. Many are driven to believe because they are convinced thereof in their judgement, and the example of others they think would shame them else. But that is not enough, thou must find thy self throughly awakened for thy sins, and feel thy self lying under the wrath of God, and lost as it were in thy self before thou canst truly see the need of a Saviour, and look up to him effectually.

The first is taken out of Rom. 8. 15. yea have not received the spirit of bondage to fear again, but the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abb• Father. Thou hast found thy self before to have bin in an estate of bondage, as those believing Romans there, who were accepted in an estate of fear and bondage under the curse of the Law and condemnation, even in despair of themselves, the spirit of Bondage for that time shews us the law that condemns us and makes it to triumph over a man so long as it lasts, try therefore if thou hast felt thy conscience set on thee, and found thy self to be condemned for thy sins. Thus all Gods children truly converted indeed have felt, though some more, some less, and lyen under it some a longer, some a shorter time; if thy soul have drooped, been afraid to be utterly cast away, if thou hast found thy self in a lost estate then is thy case good, for this goes alwayes before that insulting faith, that triumphs against all condemnation. If thou hast not found this, but hast gotten faith without it, then dost thou speak peace to thy self, before God speakes it, and it is all one as if the Israelites should have looked up to the brazen serpent, before they had been bitten with the fiery serpent in the wilderness: who had been never the better, not finding indeed the need thereof, as those that are stung and troubled with fin do. Many are driven to believe because they are convinced thereof in their judgement, and the example of others they think would shame them else. But that is not enough, thou must find thy self throughly awakened for thy sins, and feel thy self lying under the wrath of God, and lost as it were in thy self before thou canst truly see the need of a Saviour, and look up to him effectually.