RULES FOR OBTAINIiífs. FORGIVENESS. 297 thoughts, on the one hand and on the other, be not guided aright by faith, which alone can show the soul how the glory of Christ consists principally in this, that he, being so excellent and glorious, is pleased to love us with love inexpressible, who are vile and sinful; questionings about the love of Christ, and those attended with much anxiety of mind, will arise. Now, this frame may sometimes be taken for questioning the promises of God, and that be regarded as a defect in faith which is an excess of love, or is, at most, such an irregular acting of it as the Lord Christ will be very tender to- wards, and which is consistent with peace and a due sense of the forgiveness of sins. Mistake not, then, these, one for another, lest much causeless unquietness ensue in the judgment which you are to make of your- selves. But you will say, How shall we distinguish between this 'unbelief and jealousy, so as not causelessly to be disquieted and perplexed l I answer briefly, 1. Unbelief, working in the questioning of the pro mises of God, is weakening, disheartening, dispiriting. It hinders the soul in spiritual duties, and weakens it both as to delight and strength. The more any one ques- tions the promises of God, the less life, power, joyand delight in obedience he has. For faith is the spring and root of all other graces; and, according as it thrives or abates, so do they all. Men think sometimes that their uncertainty ofthe love of God, and of acceptance with him by the forgiveness of sin, urges them to the per- formance of many duties, as they can have no rest or peace in the omission of them. It may be it is so; yea, this is the state and condition with many. But what are
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