The truly blessed man, or, The way to be happy here, and forever being…

6. There must be this forgiveness really past in or• der to the Spirits bearing witness to it. The ma• must be forgiven, at least in order of nature, be• fore he can be ascertained of it: for this Testimony is to a thing that really is; and though God sometimes doth together with pardoning th• Sinner, let in this light, whereby he discerns it• yet he doth not always do so, he acts his Sovereignty in this matter, but he giveth no assurance of a pardon to him before hand; he indeed of• feareth it, tells him where it is, and how to be obtained, encourageth him to wait for it, offereth him his assistance: but all this while the matter• is in suspense as to the man; and if he comply ⟨p. 223⟩•th not with these offers, he remaineth in a state of condemnation. God is not wont to reveal his purpose to the man on this account, till he hath •ven being to it in his Providence, and this assurance follows upon that faith by which he embraced the offer of Grace which had been •ade to him.

6. There must be this forgiveness really past in or• der to the Spirits bearing witness to it. The ma• must be forgiven, at least in order of nature, be• fore he can be ascertained of it: for this Testimony is to a thing that really is; and though God sometimes doth together with pardoning th• Sinner, let in this light, whereby he discerns it• yet he doth not always do so, he acts his Soveraignty in this matter, but he giveth no assuranc• of a pardon to him before hand; he indeed of• fereth it, tells him where it is, and how to be obtained, encourageth him to wait for it, offereth him his assistance: but all this while the matter is in suspense as to the man; and if he comply