Saints are apt to be discouraged from believing on ⟨p. 313⟩the righteousness of Christ for acceptance: there are two sorts of discouragements that Christians have with respect unto their acceptance: one sort is when they are discouraged as if they were not accepted, as if they were not saints, and in a state of salvation: their present state is dark unto them: and this arises either from Gods dispensations towards them, or their carriages towards God: God lays afflictions upon them, exercises them with inward temptations, don't give assurance of his love; don't answer their prayers, don't quicken their hearts in his Ordinances: and they are carried away with corruption, don't feel the working of love in their hearts, have not such spiritual hearts as others of the people of God, and so they are ready to sink, as if their present state were not a state of peace with God: the other sort of discouragement is when they are afraid to come unto Christ for acceptance: they are called upon to believe, but are discouraged from that duty: it don't enter into them that God is free to accept of them through Christ: they dare not believe: and these two sorts of discouragements are generally Companions, and go together, though not always: usually when Christians are discouraged as to their present state, they are also more backward to believe than at other times: and their hearts are frighted because of the greatness and number of their sins: and when they are in an unbelieving frame, they are many times discouraged as if they were not Saints, and can't discern those signs that they can see plain enough at another time: this latter sort of discouragement whereby Saints are discouraged from believing in Christ is, that we are now discoursing of: and this discouraged frame is one of those frames that are contrary to a believing frame: there are two other frames in Christians that are contrary ⟨p. 314⟩to believing in Christ: one is a slighty, careless and regardless frame of spirit respecting acceptance with God and eternal salvation, mens hearts are sometimes so deeply engaged in the world, that they are little concerned about the state of their souls, they have not the weight of it on their hearts, to make sure a part in Christ; sometimes Christians are under the prevailings of a senseless Spirit, they have not sense nor solemnity enough upon their hearts to put forth an act of Faith:
Saints are apt to be discouraged from believing on ⟨p. 313⟩the righteousness of Christ for acceptance: there are two sorts of discouragements that Christians have with respect unto their acceptance: one sort is when they are discouraged as if they were not accepted, as if they were not saints, and in a state of salvation: their present state is dark unto them: and this arises either from Gods dispensations towards them, or their carriages towards God: God layes afflictions upon them, exercises them with inward temptations, don't give assurance of his love; don't answer their prayers, don't quicken their hearts in his Ordinances: and they are carried away with corruption, don't feel the working of love in their hearts, have not such spiritual hearts as others of the people of God, and so they are ready to sink, as if their present state were not a state of peace with God: the other sort of discouragement is when they are afraid to come unto Christ for acceptance: they are called upon to believe, but are discouraged from that duty: it don't enter into them that God is free to accept of them through Christ: they dare not believe: and these two sorts of discouragements are generally Companions, and go together, though not alwayes: usually when Christians are discouraged as to their present state, they are also more backward to believe than at other times: and their hearts are frighted because of the greatness and number of their sins: and when they are in an unbelieving frame, they are many times discouraged as if they were not Saints, and can't discern those signs that they can see plain enough at another time: this latter sort of discouragement whereby Saints are discouraged from believing in Christ is, that we are now discoursing of: and this discouraged frame is one of those frames that are contrary to a believing frame: there are two other frames in Christians that are contrary ⟨p. 314⟩to believing in Christ: one is a slighty, careless and regardless frame of spirit respecting acceptance with God and eternal salvation, mens hearts are sometimes so deeply engaged in the world, that they are little concerned about the state of their souls, they have not the weight of it on their hearts, to make sure a part in Christ; sometimes Christians are under the prevailings of a sensless Spirit, they have not sense nor solemnity enough upon their hearts to put forth an act of Faith:
