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

As it is with a foul rusty Musket; shoot such a one off, and it will recoil. When Faith grows rusty with Doubting, we sit down dismayed and unsettled; the very Questioning and Quarrelling against the Work of Faith, many Times doth as much disable a Man to put forth the Power of Faith, as if he had no Faith at all.

As it is with a foul rusty Musket; shoot such a one off, and it will recoil. When Faith grows rusty with Doubting, we sit down dismay'd and unsettled; the very Questioning and Quarrelling against the Work of Faith, many Times doth as much disable a Man to put forth the Power of Faith, as if he had no Faith at all.

2. Secondly, When thou hast maintained the Clearness of the Work of Grace before gained, then labour to bring thy Heart to marvellous Stillness and Calmness from Time to Time. Stayedness and Stillness of the Soul, frames the Heart to hold the Shield steadily, and bear off the Blow comfortably when it comes. Those boisterous Affections, those Crowds and Troops of troublesome Imaginations, as Fear and Jealousy; these unrank the Frame of the Soul, that it is not at the Command of Faith. As it is in an Army, when Ranks and Files are broken, they are at a Rout; be the Commander never so skilful, he cannot in that Condition march on: So though we had never so vigorous a Faith, yet if the Soul were hurled up and down with those boisterous Distempers, the Soul could not command Faith. When it was told the Disciples, Luke 24.41. that CHRIST was risen from the Dead, and had manifested himself to them; the Text saith, ⟨p. 108⟩They believed not, and wondered: They would not believe for a while; and it was through' the Violence of their Joy, which made them they had no Leisure to believe. As it's true of moderate Affection, so it's true of strong Fear, and Cares and Distempers; because these hurry the Soul violently, and transport it so, that he cannot believe. As it is in a Road, the Traveller is fitted to go his Journey, but he is hindered because the Crowd is so great and strong, that they cross him, and oppose him, and are ready to carry him another Way against his Will; just so it is with a Soul thus troubled with tumultuous Thoughts, especially Melancholy, and those other Enemies of the Soul, as vain Imaginations, sinful Fears, sinful Sorrow, distempered Thoughts and Cares; that tho' the Heart is willing and able to believe, yet those Stirrings of boisterous Affections, they cross Faith in the Way, and bear it down. There David chides his Heart in