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…

First, thou must not §1think to have joy and refreshing before thou go to the promise, but thou must look for it, when thou ⟨p. 40⟩doest chew and feed upon the promise: thou wouldest have the Lord to give thee all the bargain before thou make the match: This joy is a fruit that proceeds from faith after much wrestling; it doth not follow from faith at the first; first believe, and then joy; the heart is never filled with joy before believing; but afterwards when thou hast had the sweet dew of the comfort of the promise many a day, then look for this joy.

First, thou must not §1thinke to have joy and refreshing before thou go to the promise, but thou must looke for it, when thou ⟨p. 40⟩doest chew and feed upon the promise: thou wouldest have the Lord to give thee all the bargaine before thou make the match: This joy is a fruit that proceeds frō faith after much wrestling; it doth not follow from faith at the first; first beleeve, and then joy; the heart is never filled with joy before beleeving; but afterwards when thou hast had the sweet dew of the comfort of the promise many a day, then looke for this joy.

Secondly, know that these joys, and this sense and feeling may be absent from faith: a man may have a good faith, and yet want the relish and sweetness ⟨p. 41⟩which he longs after. A man may want his desirings, and yet want neither life nor heat: A tree may want leaves and fruit, and yet want neither sap nor moisture: A mans faith may be somewhat strong, when his feeling is nothing at all: David was justified and sanctified, and yet wanted this joy; and so Job rested upon GOD when he had but little feeling, as when he saith, Thou makest me a Butt to shoot at;