A59036:144
The doubting believer, or, A treatiseThe doubting beleever, or, A treatise
The doubting believer, or, A treatise containing 1. the nature, 2. the kinds, 3. the springs, 4. the remedies of doubtings, incident to weak believers by Obadiah Sedgwick ...The doubting beleever, or, A treatise containing 1. the nature, 2. the kinds, 3. the springs, 4. the remedies of doubtings, incident to weak beleevers by Obadiah Sedgwick ...
London: printed by M.F. for Thomas Nicols, 1641
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. The very stays and supports of duty seem to fail us. You know that the Promises are the great encouragements ⟨p. 61⟩of all our services; and what have we to bind God but his own Promises, by which he hath bound himself? He hath said that he will hear, and answer; Upon which assurance of his, we came in, and prayed, but cannot get any thing, though we press God upon his own promise; Whereupon the soul is brought to a stand, If God will not answer his own word, how shall he answer me?
2. The very stayes and supports of duty seeme to faile us. You know that the P•omises are the great incouragements ⟨p. 61⟩of all our services; and what have we to bind God but his owne Promises, by which he hath bound himselfe? He hath said that hee will heare, and answer; Upon which assurance of his, we came in, and prayed, but cannot get any thing, though we presse God upon his owne promise; Whereupon the soule is brought to a stand, If God will not answer his owne word, how shall he answer me?
3. Now we suspect not our petitions, but our persons, and uncomfortably judge or fear, that we have been deceived in our progress towards heaven: God would be to us as to his, (a God hearing Prayers) if we had been to God as his, serving him with a perfect heart, for God heareth not sinners, Joh. 19. 31. But If any man be a worshipper of God, and doth his will, him he heareth. Whereupon the ⟨p. 62⟩soul strongly argues against it self, My heart is sinful, or else my prayers had been successful; I regard iniquity in my heart, therefore it is that the Lord hears me not,