..n- 426 DIRECTIONS FORGETTING AND KEEPING your tormenting fears? Why do you not do 'this instead ofdoubt- ing? If tormenting fears and doubting be a sin, why do you not make conscience of them, and bewail it that you have been so guilty of them? Will you therefore doubt because you have slavish fears? Why, that is to doubt because you doubt; and to fear because you fear ; and so to sin still because you have sinned. Consider well of the folly of this course. Doubt -7. 'But I am not able to believe ; and without faith there is no pleasing God, nor hope of salvation ; I fear unbelief will be my ruin.' Anew. 1. Ihave answered this doubt fully before. .It is ground- ed on a mistake of the nature of true faith. You think that faith is the beliéving that you are in God's favor, and that you are justi- fled; but properly this is no faith at all, but only assurance, which is sometimes a fruit of faith, and sometimes never in this life ob- tained by a believer. Faith conéisteth of two parts, 1. Assent to the truth of the word. 2. Acceptance of Christ as he is offered, which immediately produceth a trusting on Christ for salvation, and consent to be governed by him, and resolution to obey him; which,in the fullest sense, are also act's of faith. Now, do you not believe the truthof the gospel? And do you not accept of Christ as he is offered' therein? If you are truly willing to have Christ as he is offered, I dare say you are a true believer. If you be not willing, for shame never complain. Menuse rather to speak against those that they are unwilling of, than complain of their absence, and that they cannot enjoy 2. However, seeing you complain of unbelief, in the name of God do not cherish it, and plead for it, and by your own cogita- tions fetch in daily matter to feed it; but do more in detestation of it, as well as complain. Doubt 8. i But I am a stranger to the witness of the Spirit, and the joy of the Holy Ghost, and communion with God, and there- fore how_can I bea true believer ?' Arusw. 1. Feeding your doubts and perplexities, and arguing for them, is not a means to get the testimony and joy of the Spirit, but rather studying with all saints to know the love of God which passeth knowledge, to comprehend the height, and breadth, and length and depth of his love ; and seeking to understand the things that are given you of God. Acknowledge God's general love to mankind, both in his gracious nature, and common providences, and redemption by Christ, and deny not his special mercies to yourself, but dwell in the study of the riches of grace, and that is the way to come to the joy of the Holy Ghost. 2. I have told you before what the witness of the Spirit is, and what is the ordi nary mistake herein. If you have the graces and holy operations
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=