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

So again, suppose thou feelest the guilt of sin, piercing and afflicting thy conscience, and God hath promised to pardon iniquities, transgressions, and sins, and to love freely, and ⟨p. 89⟩to receive graciously, dost thou now well or wisely, to thrust away the pardoning Promises, and say, What are they to such a one as I am? If any beggar should say, What is that to me, that there are bountiful alms at the rich mans gate? Or a Malefactor, What is that to me, that the Prince will pardon Traitors? Or a sensible sinner, What is that to me, that Christ did die for sins, and God will be merciful to returning sinners? &c.

So againe, suppose thou feelest the guilt of sin, piercing and afflicting thy conscience, and God hath promised to pardon iniquities, transgressions, and sins, and to love freely, and ⟨p. 89⟩to receive graciously, dost thou now well or wisely, to thrust away the pardoning Promises, and say, What are they to such a one as I am? If any begger should say, What is that to me, that there are bountifull almes at the rich mans gate? Or a Malefactor, What is that to me, that the Prince will pardon Traitors? Or a sensible sinner, What is that to me, that Christ did die for sinnes, and God will be merciful to returning sinners? &c.

11. An eleventh cause of ¹doubtings may be the suspension of divine favour: When God holds up his countenance, the light of it from shining into the heart, •o that a Christian doth not enjoy his day as before, his God as before, in the sensible evidences of his loving favour, now the soul may (possibly) fall into singular distrusts and fears. See it in ⟨p. 90⟩