The poor doubting christian drawn to Christ· Wherein the main lets and hindrances which…The poore doubting christian drawne to Christ· Wherein the maine letts and hindrances vvhich…

The third rule in this ⟨p. 144⟩§3second means, is this, Labour to acquaint thy heart with the goodness of the promise, before carnal reason comes and possesses thy heart, how that the promise is most sure, and will come when it is most seasonable, and is best for thee, and when God sees it most fit we shall certainly have it;¹ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may receive comfort and mercy in time of need; not when I see it fit, but when God sees it fit, this is it which carries away many poor sinful hearts from resting upon the promise of God; sometimes the heart is a little affected with the excellency ⟨p. 145⟩of the riches of Gods grace, and seeth what great things the Lord hath done for his soul, and saith, Oh that I were such a one, and let me die the death of the righteous; but when it comes to pass that he hath not present ease and comfort, then he casts away the good promise of the Lord, and the devil prevails wonderfully with these poor creatures: Therefore saith the Prophet, When the fig tree shall not blossom, ²neither shall the fruit be on the Vines, when the labour of the Olive shall fail and yield no fruit, then will I rejoice in the Lord, and joy in the God of my salvation. Saith the Prophet, ⟨p. 146⟩Comfort from the promise, and from the Lord Jesus Christ is then seasonable, when I have most need and may receive most good thereby; then shall I be sure to have the promise so to surprise my heart, that it may be possessed with the all-sufficiency of it.

The third rule in this ⟨p. 144⟩§3second meanes, is this, Labour to acquaint thy heart with the goodnesse of the promise, before carnall reason comes and possesses thy heart, how that the promise is most sure, and will come when it is most seasonable, and is best for thee, and when God sees it most fit we shall certainly have it;