The poor doubting Christian drawn to Christ. Wherein the main hindrances, which keep men…

¹In the third place, look for all the good which thou needest and canst desire from that Sufficiency which is in the Promise; and do not think of thy self to add any good unto it, but go to it for all thy good. For, there are all the Cords of Mercy that must draw thee; and there is that All-sufficiency that can supply thee; and therefore look for all from thence; but think to bring nothing thither, nothing (I say) that ⟨p. 91⟩can be of Power to enable thee to a Power of believing.

1. 13. Means.

Object. And here, it is a weak Plea for a Man to say, I dare not look to the Promise, I cannot believe it; for if I could (and O that I could) then I might expect some good Fruit from it.

Answ. To answer this, Thou shalt never believe upon these Terms; for, thou must not first have Faith, and then go to the Promise, but must first go to the Promise for the Power of that Faith: From the Promise thou must receive Power to Believe. And therefore say with the Prophet, Psal. 119.49. O Lord remember thy Word to thy Servant, wherein thou hast caused me to Trust. When Men are enlarged in Love to a Man, and make fair Weather of Promises unto him; this persuades him to trust unto them, and to rely upon them for good to come; therefore he saith, I durst never so much as have thought of it, much less expected it, if you had not promised so much. And even so here; the Promise of GOD (made to the Soul) makes the Soul to rest upon what is promised.