Spiritual Peace and Comfort. 137 a Certaintyofcvidenee in the ifriteft fenfe ; though yet evidence there is for it : But it is the fame evi- dences materiallywhich are the grouud of Probabi- lity and of Certainty : Only fometirne they differ Gradually ( one having more Grace and ano- ther lefs ) and fometime not fo neither : For he that bathmore Grace may difcernbut a Probability in it (through force other defect) no more then he that bath leis : But when one man difcerns his Graces and Sincerity but darkly, be bath but a Pro- bability ofSalvation manifefted by them : and when another difcerneth them more clearly, he bath a ftronger Probability ; and he that difcernçth them molt clearly (ifother neceffaries concur ) bath that which we call a Certainty. Now I am perfwaded that you frequently fee a flrongProbability ofyour Sincerity ; and may not that be a very great flay and comfort to your foul ? Nay, may it not drawout your heart in Love, De- light and Thankfulnefs ? Suppofe that your name were written in a piece of paper, and put among an hundred, or fifty, or but twenty other likepapers in- to a Lottery, and you were certain that you íhould be the owner ofthis whole Land except your name were drawn, the firft time, and if it were drawn you fhould die ; Would your Joy or your Sorrow for this be the greater ? Nay, ifit werebut ten to one,or but two to oneodds on your fide, it would keepyou from drooping and difcóuragement : And why fbould it not do fo in the prefent cafe ? DI R ]E4 Y
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