Some select cases resolved. Specially, tending to the right ordering of the heart, that…

3. The third act is this; Seeing God hath promised absolutely such good things in the Second Covenant, but hath not set down the time when, or how much grace he will give, and seeing only he can help; therefore look up, and wait upon the Lord in the use of all known means, until he makes good what he hath promised to do, and perform, and work for you. Say, as beggars that have but one door to go to for bread, if none hear, or hearing help not, lay themselves down at the door, and say; I will wait here, I am sure I perish if I go away, or quarrel with them in the house because they help me not so soon as I would; and therefore I will wait, for it may be their compassions may move them as they pass by to help me. So do you. Many a Soul comes and longs for the good of the Promises; but if the Lord do not speedily help him, he goes with discouragements, fears, and discontents, or despair, or sin away, and saith one of these two things, either I shall never have help, or I come not truly, and hence I feel no help. Oh remember that bread is only to be had at the door, to be distributed when the Lord seeth need, not ⟨p. 37⟩when we would, or think we have need; and therefore wait here and say, if I perish here, I will at the feet of God, and at the feet of the promises and covenant of God, &c.

Now reflect upon this act, and see if you may not find some conditional promise annexed unto it; which surely you may, and I will name you but two, Isa. 40.29, 30, 31; and Isa. 64.4. And if the conditional promise belongs to such a Soul, you may easily conclude the absolute promises are your own: and the chiefest use you are to make of them when you know them that they are your own, is to press God to make them good daily to you; and to believe as verily and really, as if you had the performance of them, that they shall. It may be you will ask me, How shall I know whether I have these conditions truly in me? I answer, sincerity is a very witnessing grace; the frequent meditation of the Scripture will give you much light, to judge of the sincerity of them, and that which Saint Paul speaks,