The saints everlasting rest

O that careless sinners would be awakened to think of this in time! If thou be one of them, who art reading these lines, I do here, as a friend, advise thee, ⟨p. 109⟩that as thou wouldst not have all thy hopes deceive thee, when thou hast most need, thou presently try them, whether they will prove current at the touchstone of the scripture; and if thou find them unsound, let them go, whatsoever sorrow they cost thee. Rest not till thou canst give a reason of all thy hopes; till thou canst prove, that they are the hopes which grace and not nature, hath wrought; that they are grounded upon scripture-promises; that they purify thy heart; that they quicken, and not cool thy endeavours in godliness; that the more thou hopest, the less thou sinnest, and the more painful thou art in following on the work, and not grown more loose and careless by the increasing of thy hopes; that thou art willing to have them tried, and fearful of being deceived; that they stir up thy desires of enjoying what thou hopest for, and the deferring thereof is the trouble of thy heart.

There is a hope which is a singular grace and duty; and there is a hope which is a notorious, dangerous sin: so consequently there is a despair which is a grievous sin; and there is a despair which is absolutely necessary to thy salvation.

I would not have thee despair of the sufficiency of the blood of Christ to save thee, if thou believe, and heartily obey him; nor of the willingness of GOD to pardon and save thee, if thou be such a one: nor yet absolutely of thy own salvation, because while there is life and time, there is hope of thy conversion, and so of thy salvation; nor would I draw thee to despair of finding Christ, if thou do but heartily seek him: but this is the despair that I would persuade thee to, as thou lovest thy soul; that thou despair of ever being saved, except thou be born again; or of seeing GOD, without holiness; or escaping perishing, except thou suddenly repent; or of ever having part in Christ, except