266 DIRECTIONS FOR GETTING AND KEEPING son? The will is led by the reason ofthe understanding. If you be not willing; there is something that persuades you to be unwill- mg. This reason must be from something real, or else upon amis- take, upon supposal of something that is not in being. If it be upon mistake, either it is that you be not convinced of Christ's willingness to be yours; and if you thought he'did consent, you would consent willingly ; if this be it, you do truly believe while you think you do not; for you do consent, (and that is all on your part to make the match,) and Christ doth certainly consent,though you do not understand it. In this case it concerneth you to RIP, derstand better the extent ofthe new covenant, and then you will be past doubt of the willingness ofChrist, andsee that wherever the match breaks, it is only for want of consent in men ; for Christ is the first suitor, and hath long ago in the covenant proclaimed his consent to be the Head and Husband of every sinner, on condition they will but consent to be his. Ifyour mistake be from any false apprehension of the natureof Christ, as if he were not a sufficient Savior, or were an enemy to your comfort, that he would d2 you more harm than good ; if these mistakes are prevalent, then you do not know Christ, and therefore must presently better study him in the gospel, till you have pre- vailed over such ignorant and blasphemous conceits; (but none of this, I suppose, is your case.) If, then, the reason whyyou say you cannot believe, be fromany thing that is really in Christ, (and not upon mistake,) then it must be either from some dislike ofhis saving work, by which he would pardon you, and save you fromdamnation, (but that is impossible, for you cannot be willing to be damned or unpardoned, till you lose your reason;) or else it is from a dislike of his work of sanctifica-' don, by which he would cleanse yourheart and life, by saving you from your sinful nature and actions ; some grudging against Christ's holy and undefiled laws and ways will be in the best, while there is that flesh in them which lusteth against the Spirit, so that they can- not do the things they would. But if truly you have such a dislike of a sinless condition, through the love of any sin or creature, that you cannot be willing to have Christ to cure you, and cleanse you from that sin, and make you holy ; I say, if this be true, in a pre- vailing degree, so that if Christ and holiness were ofFered you, you would not accept them, then it is certain you have not true faith. And in this case it is easily to discern, that your first work lieth not in getting comfort or ease to your troubled mind ; but in getting better conceits of Christ and a holy state and life, that so you may be willing of Christ, as Christ is ofyou, and so become a true be- liever. And here I would not leave you at that loss as some do, as if there were nothing for you to do for the getting of faith ; for cer-
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