The doubting believer, or, A treatiseThe doubting beleever, or, A treatise

Brethren, no man can be free from strong fears and doubts, who thinks to be acquitted or condemned by what is in himself: If a man thinks this, The Lord will or doth enter into judgement with me, and I find nothing to satisfy him, all the powers of my heart, and of my graces are insufficient, and therefore there is now no hope but I shall be cast and condemned; you see here is ground of doubtings: yet if a man could look out of himself, and know that his righteousness is to be found in Christ, and God hath appointed it so, that I am to be justified by that righteousness only; now the soul may have a stay to rest on: Yet my Saviours righteousness was perfect, was accepted, and he is ⟨p. 79⟩mine, and his righteousness is mine.

Brethren, no man can be free from strong feares and doubts, who thinks to be acquitted or condemned by what is in himselfe: If a man thinks this, The Lord will or doth enter into judgement with me, and I finde nothing to satisfie him, all the powers of my heart, and of my graces are insufficient, and therefore there is now no hope but I shal be cast and condemned; you see here is ground of doubtings: yet if a man could look out of himselfe, and know that his righteousness is to be found in Christ, and God hath appointed it so, that I am to be justified by that righteousness onely; now the soul may have a stay to rest on: Yet my Saviours righteousnesse was perfect, was accepted, and he is ⟨p. 79⟩mine, and his righteousnesse is mine.

3. Till we know the dispositions (if I may so speak) in God about our justifying, we cannot but doubt: for a man reasoneth thus: I have committed great sins, which now do grieve me, and I hate them, and I have left them, but I know not how they may be pardoned; those will now cause doubtings. Until we know that God for Christ will justify us from great sins, as well as small, 1 Cor 6. 8, 9. and that