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

[2.] Therefore in the second Place, as the Sinner looks upon the Excellency of Christ and of Grace, and upon his own Insufficiency withal, which makes him that he will not venture upon the Promise; so he looks too altogether upon his own Sinfulness and Worthlessness, and therefore dare not venture upon it: He views the Number of his Sins so many and vile, and the Continuance of them so long, and durable; and he seeth the Floods of Abominations coming in so amain upon his Soul, and Satan to boot, (who helps him forward in all this,) therefore he dares not make out unto Christ. But this is the Policy of the Devil, who (if he can) will make a Man to see Sin through' his own Spectacles, or not to see it at all; and then to say, There is Mercy enough in a Saviour, and therefore I may live as I list. But when the Sinner will needs see his Sin, then he will let him see nothing but Sin; and this, to the End that he may despair for ever.

[2.] Therefore in the second Place, as the Sinner looks upon the Excellency of Christ and of Grace, and upon his own Insufficiency withal, which makes him that he will not venture upon the Promise; so he looks too altogether upon his own Sinfulness and Worthlessness, and therefore dare not venture upon it: He views the Number of his Sins so many and vile, and the Continuance of them so long, and durable; and he seeth the Floods of Abominations coming in so amain upon his Soul, and Satan to boot, (who helps him forward in all this,) therefore he dares not make out unto Christ. But this is the Policy of the Devil, who (if he can) will make a Man to see Sin thro' his own Spectacles, or not to see it at all; and then to say, There is Mercy enough in a Saviour, and therefore I may live as I list. But when the Sinner will needs see his Sin, then he will let him see nothing but Sin; and this, to the End that he may despair for ever.

Now here the poor Sinner is at a stand, and can go no further: For tell him of the Mercy ⟨p. 7⟩of God, and of the plenteous Redemption in Christ, and of the Riches of the Freeness of God's Grace: What (saith he) should I think there is any Mercy for me, and that I have any Interest in Christ? That were strange. And thus the Soul is always poring, and always too much fastened and settled upon his Corruptions, ever stirring the Sore, without ever going to the Physician. Where note, That a Man is as well kept from looking to Christ by Despair, as by Presumption. Before he sees his Sin, he thinks his Condition is good, and that he hath a Sufficiency of his own, and needs not go to Christ; and when he sees his Sin, then he beholds so much Vileness in himself, and in it, that he dares not go to Christ, lest when he comes before him, he sends him down to that ever-burning Lake of Fire and Brimstone. Herein the Devil is very subtle: But this doth not hinder our Title to Christ; neither ought it to discourage us from laying hold on Salvation. For,