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

But now on the contrary, If you look for grounds of believing in and from your selves, it cannot be that ever your hearts should be free from doubtings; If either you make your own worthiness the cause of believing, you shall never come to believe: This were not to receive good from God, but to buy and purchase it; and is absolutely against the nature of free promises, as also against the disposition of true faith, which empties us of our selves, and seeth the cause of all our good to be only in him who is All-goodness.

But now on the contrary, If you look for grounds of beleeving in and from your selves, it cannot be that ever your hearts should be free from doubtings; If either you make your owne worthinesse the cause of beleeving, you shall never come to beleeve: This were not to receive good from God, but to buy and purchase it; and is absolutely against the nature of free promises, as also against the disposition of true faith, which empties us of our selves, and seeth the cause of all our good to be only in him who is All-goodnesse.

Or if you think that you must first find the good in your selves which ye are to fetch from the Promises, you ⟨p. 277⟩cannot then believe, you must unavoidably doubt still: because it is impossible for a sinner or a needy Christian ever to draw his helps out of himself, or to prevent the promises of God. As he cannot deserve any good from God promising, so he cannot bring any good to Gods promises. Ho, ¹every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, saith the Prophet, and he that hath no money: Come ye, buy and eat. yea come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. If thou be a thirsty person, here is all provision freely for thee.

Or if you think that you must first finde the good in your selves which ye are to fetch from the Promises, you