The sound believer, or, A treatise of evangelical conversion discovering the work of Christs…The sound beleever, or, A treatise of evangelicall conversion discovering the work of Christs…

I answer, we are not in this or any other point to be guided by the experience of men only, but attend the rule; if it be proved that according to the rule men must be broken and affected with their sin and misery before mercy can be truly apprehended or ⟨p. 53⟩Christ accepted, what tell you me of such or such men? let the rule stand, but let men stand or fall according to the rule: many are accounted godly and gracious for a time▪ much affected with mercy and Christ Jesus; yet afterward fall or wizen into nothing, and prove very unsound. What is the reason? Truly the cause was here, their first wound and sorrow for sin was not right, as hereafter shall be made good; many thousands are miserably deceived about their estates, by this one thing, of crooking and wresting Gods rules to Christians experiences; let all Gods servants tremble and be wary here; wrack not the holy Scriptures, nor force them to speak as thou feelest, but try all things by them, 1 Thes. 5.21.

I answer, we are not in this or any other point to be guided by the experience of men onely, but attend the rule; if it be proved that according to the rule men must be broken and affected with their sin and misery before mercy can be truly apprehended or ⟨p. 53⟩Christ accepted, what tell you me of such or such men? let the rule stand, but let men stand or fall according to the rule: many are accounted godly and gracious for a time▪ much affected with mercy and Christ Jesus; yet afterward fall or wizen into nothing, and prove very unsound. What is the reason? Truly the cause was here, their first wound and sorrow for sin was not right, as hereafter shall be made good; many thousands are miserably deceived about their estates, by this one thing, of crooking and wresting Gods rules to Christians experiences; let all Gods servants tremble and be wary here; wrack not the holy Scriptures, nor force them to speak as thou feelest, but try all things by them, 1 Thes. 5.21.