SPIRITUAL PEACE AND COMPORT. 266 have elsewheremanifested ; so that the heart of saving faith is this acceptance of Christ, or willingness to have him to justify, sanctify, guide and govern you. Find but this willingness, and you find all the rest, whether you expressly see them or not. So much for that direction. Direct. IX. Having thus far proceeded, in discovering and im- proving the general grounds ofcomfort, and then in discovering the nature of faith, which gives you right to the special mercies of the covenant following it ; your next work must be, ' To perform this condition by actual believing.' Your soul stands in extreme need of a Savior. God offereth you a Savior in the gospel. What, then, have you next todo but to accept him ? Believe that this offer is general, and therefore to you. And that Christ is not set to sale, nor doth God require you tobring a price in your hand, but only heartily and thankfully to accept of what he freely giveth you. This must be done before you fall on trying your graces toget assurance, for you must have grace before you can discover it; and this is the first proper special saving grace, (as it compriseth that *knowledge and assent which necessarily go before it.) This is not only the method for those that yet never believed, but also for them that have lost the sense of their faith, and so the sight of their evidence. Believe again, that you may know you dobelieve; or dt least may possess an ac- cepted Savior. When God in the gospel bids you take Jesus Christ, and beseecheth you to be reconciled to him, what will you say to him? Ifyour heart answer, 'Lord, I am willing, I will ac- cept of Christ and be thankful ;' why then the match is made be- tween Christ and you, and the marriage- covenant is truly entered, which none can dissolve. If Christ were not first willing, he would not be the suitor, and make the motion; and if he be willing, and you be willing, what can break the match ? If you will say, ' I cannot believe;' if you understand what you say, either you mean that you cannot believe the gospel is true, or else that you cannot be willing that Christ should be yours. If it be theformer, and you speak truly, then you are a flat infidel ; (yet many temptations to doubt of the truth of Scripture a truebeliever may have, yea, and actual doubtings; but his faith prevaileth, and Is victorious over them;) but if you really doubt whether the gospel be true, use God's means for the discovery of its truth. Read *hat I have written in the second part ofmy Book of Rest. I will Undertake now more confidently than ever I did, to prove the truth of Scrip- ture by plain, full, undeniable force of reason. But I suppose this is none of your case. If, therefore, when you say, that you cannot believe, you mean, that you cannot accept an offered Christ, or be willing to have him ; then I demand, (1.) What is your rea- VOL. I. 34
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