N17286:392
The saints everlasting rest
The saints everlasting rest: or, A treatise of the blessed state of the saints in their enjoyment of God in glory: extracted from the works of Mr. Richard Baxter, by John Wesley, M.A. late fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford.
Philadelphia: printed by Prichard & Hall, 1790
Part 2 › Chapter 8: Further Causes of doubting among Christians.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
3. Another common cause of doubting and discomfort, is, the secret maintaining some known sin.
When a man liveth in some unwarrantable practice, and GOD hath oft touched him for it, and yet he continueth it; it is no wonder if this person want both assurance and comfort. One would think that a soul that is so tender as to tremble, should be as tender of sinning: and yet sad experience telleth us that it is frequently otherwise: I have known too many such, that would complain and yet sin, and accuse themselves, and yet sin still, yea and despair, and yet proceed in sinning: and all arguments and means could not keep them from the wilful committing of that sin again and again, which yet they themselves did think would prove their destruction. Yea, some will be carried away with those sins that seem most contrary to their dejected temper. I have known them that ⟨p. 177⟩would fill men's ears with the constant lamentations of their miserable state, and accusations against themselves, as if they had been the most humble people in the world; and yet be as passionate in the maintaining their innocency when another accuseth them, and as intolerably peevish, and tender of their reputation in any thing they are blamed for, as if they were the proudest persons on earth.
This cherishing sin doth hinder assurance these four ways.