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…

Now the second means of cure is this,¹ take heed ⟨p. 56⟩of judging thy estate by carnal reason without the rule, as thus it is the fashion of poor distressed spirits, to pass fearful sentence upon themselves upon groundless arguments, and to say, I never found it, I feel no such thing, and I fear it is not so. Thus we hear those carnal pleas which Satan helps us to invent, and we judge our selves by them:² Now, I say, take heed of this, and make conscience of this same, as of any other sin of swearing, stealing, whoring, or murder, for this is as truly a sin as those, though not so great; nay; it is a far greater sin than you imagine. Consider ⟨p. 57⟩this you humble-hearted Christians, for to you I speak; for when upon these grounds thou concludest thy case and estate is naught: see against how many Commandments thou sinnest. First, thou dishonourest God and the work of his grace; in denying that which GOD hath done for thee, & speakest unreverently against God; thou art a murderer, and woundest thy own soul; thou robbest thy self of comfort, and art a thief; and thou bearest false witness against thine own heart, yea against Christ, and his Spirit, and the work of grace wrought in thee, and joinest with ⟨p. 58⟩the devil against the Lord Christ.

Now the second means of cure is this,¹ take heed ⟨p. 56⟩of judging thy estate by carnall reason without the rule, as thus it is the fashion of poore distressed spirits, to passe fearefull sentence upon themselves upon groundlesse arguments, and to say, I never found it, I feele no such thing, and I feare it is not so. Thus we heare those carnall pleas which Sathan helps us to invent, and we judge our selves by them: