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

And truly this is the great mercy of his wisdom to work thus; for hereby he makes our foundation low, and sure, and hereby he prevents subsequent stirs, and makes way for our surer and more comfortable apprehensions and applications of his love in Christ. You know that a wise Schoolmaster, when a boy skips from a hard lesson to that which is more easy, he puts him back again, and makes him say it over and over, ere he takes it forth. Men think to be catching at Christ, however they love to lay load on him, and throw their vile burdens upon him, though perhaps they never yet weighed their vile sinings and dishonourings of God: But the Lord will turn them back again, he will take ⟨p. 324⟩off these pragmatical presumers, and set them to learn their first lesson better: He will make them more sensible of their vile hearts, and ways, and actions; they shall not so easily come off from their accursed transgressions; the Lord will hold up the comfortable answers of his favours, and the sweet tastes of the Lord Jesus Christ, and make them again to sit down in bitter sorrow for piercing the Lord Christ, and shedding his blood, and grieving of his Spirit, and all that men might be more humbled, and more really fitted for Christ.

And truly this is the great mercy of his wisdome to work thus; for hereby he makes our foundation low, and sure, and hereby he prevents subsequent stirs, and makes way for our surer and more comfortable apprehensions and applications of his love in Christ. You know that a wise Schoolmaster, when a boy skips from a hard lesson to that which is more easie, he puts him back againe, and makes him say it over and over, ere he takes it forth. Men think to be catching at Christ, however they love to lay load on him, and throw their vile burdens upon him, though perhaps they never yet weighed their vile sinings and dishonourings of God: But the Lord will turne them back againe, he will take ⟨p. 324⟩off these pragmaticall presumers, and set them to learne their first lesson better: He will make them more sensible of their vile hearts, and waies, and actions; they shall not so easily come off from their accursed transgressions; the Lord will hold up the comfortable answers of his favours, and the sweet tasts of the Lord Jesus Christ, and make them againe to sit downe in bitter sorrow for piercing the Lord Christ, and shedding his bloud, and grieving of his Spirit, and all that men might be more humbled, and more really fitted for Christ.