SPIR[TÚAL PEACE AND COMFORT.,, 315 come not in,'to destroy them. But for you that would be obedi- ent and reformed, and are troubled that you are no better, and beg of God to make you better, and have no sin but what you would be glad to be rid of, may not you, at least, see a strong probability that it shall go well with you ? O make use, there- fore, of this probability; and if you have but hopes that God will doYou good, rejoice in those hopes till you can come to rejoice in assurance. And here let me tell you, that probabilities are of divers degrees, according to their divers grounds. Where men have but little probability of their sincerity, and a greater probability that they arenot sindere in the faith; these menmay be somewhat borne up, but it behoves them presently to search in fear, and to amend that which is the causeof their fear. Thosethat have more probability of the sincerity of their hearts than of the contrary, may well have more peace than trouble of mind. Those that . have yet a higher degree of probability, may live in more joy, and so according to the degree of probability may their comforts still arise. And observe also, that it is but the highest degree of this prob- ability here which we call a certainty ; for it is a moral certainty, and not that which is called a certainty of divine faith, nor that which is called a certainty of evidence in the strictestsense, though yet evidence there is for it. But it is the same evidences materi- ally, which are the ground of probability and of certainty; only sometimes they differ gradually, (one having more grace, and an- other less) and sometimes not so neither ; for he that hath more grace, may discern but a probability in it, (through some other defect,) no more than he that bath less. But when one man dis- cerns his graces and sincerity but darkly, he hath but a probability of salvation manifested by them; and when another discerneth them more clearly, he bath a stronger probability ; and he that discerneth themmost clearly (if other necessaries concur) bath that which we call a certainty. Now, I am persuaded that you frequently see a strongprobability of your sincerity ; and may not that be a very great stay and com- fort to your soul ? Nay, may it not drawout your heart in love, delight and thankfulness? Suppose that your name were written in a piece of paper, and put amohg a 'hundred, or fifty, or but twenty other like papers into a lottery, and you were certain that you should be the owner of this whole land, except your name were drawn the first time, and if it were drawn you should die, would your joy or your sorrow for this be the greater? Nay, if it were but ten to one, or but two to one odds on your side, it would keep you from drooping and discouragement ; and why should it not do so in the present case ?
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