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

Now this Man hath no other Cure for his Conscience in such a Case, but this; he entreats Conscience to be quiet. He confesseth he hath lived in base Courses, and his Condition to be very miserable; but now he will reform all. He hath neglected Prayer heretofore, but now he will pray: He hath hated God's Servants, but now he will love them: His Ways have been exceeding evil, but now he will reform them, and now he will turn over a new Leaf. This he saith, and this (he thinks) will serve his Turn. And thus many ⟨p. 19⟩poor Souls use the Means as Mediators, and so fall short of Christ. But a gracious Heart doth not only pray, and hear, and receive, and use all possible Means to obtain CHRIST, but is restless and unsatisfied 'till he enjoy and possess CHRIST in the Means. He rests not upon the bare Performance of any Duty, neither thinks by Virtue of any such his Endeavours to get into Christ.

Now this Man hath no other Cure for his Conscience in such a Case, but this; he intreats Conscience to be quiet. He confesseth he hath lived in base Courses, and his Condition to be very miserable; but now he will reform all. He hath neglected Prayer heretofore, but now he will pray: He hath hated God's Servants, but now he will love them: His Ways have been exceeding evil, but now he will reform them, and now he will turn over a new Leaf. This he saith, and this (he thinks) will serve his Turn. And thus many ⟨p. 19⟩poor Souls use the Means as Mediators, and so fall short of Christ. But a gracious Heart doth not only pray, and hear, and receive, and use all possible Means to obtain CHRIST, but is restless and unsatisfied 'till he enjoy and possess CHRIST in the Means. He rests not upon the bare Performance of any Duty, neither thinks by Virtue of any such his Endeavours to get into Christ.

I will express this Particular more fully in this Manner. A rich Usurer that is sick of some Disease; tell him such a Physician can cure him, but he stands upon State, and will not come without a great deal of Charge. Charge (saith he) I do not stand upon that; I have Money enough by me, enough to fetch him hither. Such a Man now placeth all his Confidence in his Money. So when the Soul sees the Guilt of Sin is not removed, and that Conscience is still snarling, and that (the Law condemning him) Christ is the only Saviour, and he only that can satisfy and cure all. But now, How shall Christ be procured? Why? His Prayer, and Fasting, and Performances, may command so much, and that by the Power and Merit of the Work done. The Voice of a Pharisee, and proper Language of a Papist. But what Promise is there for it? Within-book none. But thus Fools rest on their own Performances, and so fall short of Christ and Salvation.