The Sincere Convert

Fourthly, Hereupon the soul being comforted after it was wounded, now calleth God, my God, and Christ, my sweet Saviour, and now it doubts not but it shall be saved; why? because I have received much comfort after much sorrow, and doubting, Hos. 8. 2, 3. and yet remains a deluded miserable creature still. But here mark the difference between the witness of each spirit. The false spirit makes a man believe he is in the state of grace, and shall be saved, because he hath tasted of Christ, and so hath been comforted, and that abundantly: But the true Spirit persuades a man, his estate is good and safe, because he hath not only tasted, but bought this Christ; as the wise Merchant in the Gospel, that rejoiced he had found the pearl, but yet stays not here, but sells away all, and buys the pearl. Like two Chapmen that come to buy Wine, ⟨p. 207⟩the one tastes it, and goeth away in a drunken fit, and so concludes it is his: So a man doth, that hath the false spirit: but the true spirited man doth not only taste, but buys the Wine, although he do not drink it all down, when he cometh to taste it; yet he having been incited by tasting to buy it, now he calls it his own: So a child of God tasting a little of God, and a little of Christ, and a little of the promises at his first conversion, although he tastes not all the sweetness that is in God, yet he forsakes all for God, for Christ, and so takes them lawfully as his own.

Fourthly, Hereupon the soule being comforted after it was wounded, now calleth God, my God, and Christ, my sweet Saviour, and now it doubts not but it shall be saved; why? because I have received much comfort after much sorrow, and doubting, Hos. 8. 2, 3. and yet remaines a deluded miserable creature still. But here marke the difference betweene the witnesse of each spirit. The false spirit makes a man beleeve he is in the state of grace, and shall be saved, because he hath tasted of Christ, and so hath been comforted, and that abundantly: But the true Spirit perswades a man, his estate is good and safe, because he hath not onely tasted, but bought this Christ; as the wise Merchant in the Gospel, that rejoyced he had found the pearle, but yet stayes not here, but sells away all, and buyes the pearle. Like two Chapmen that come to buy Wine,