The saints everlasting rest, or, A treatise of the blessed state of the saints in their enjoyment of God in glory wherein is shewed its excellency and certainty, the misery of those that lose it, the way to attain it, and assurance of it, and how to live in the continual delightful forecasts of it and now published by Richard Baxter ...

SECT. X.

* 1.1FUrther Causes of doubting among Christians.

Because the Comfort of a Christians life doth so much consist in his Assurance of Gods Special Love, and because the right way of obtaining it is so much controverted of late, I will here proceed a little further in opening to you some other Hin∣derances which keep true Christians from Comfortable Certain∣ty, besides the forementioned Errors in the Work of Examina∣tion: Though I would still have you remember and be sensi••le, That the neglect or slighty performance of that great duty, and not following on the sea••ch with Seriousness and Constancy, is

the most common Hinderance, for ought I have yet found.

I shall add now these Ten more, which I find very ordinary Impediments, and therefore desire Christians more carefully to Consider and Beware of them.

1. One Common and great Cause of doubting and uncertain∣ty, is, The weakness and small measure of our Graces. A little Grace is next to None. Small things are hardly discerned. He that will see a small needle, a hair, a mote, or atome, must have clear light and good eyes: But houses, and Towns, and Moun∣tains are easily discerned. Most Christians content themselves with a small measure of Grace, and do not follow on to spiritual strength and manhood. They Believe so weakly, and Love God so little, that they can scarce find whether they Believe and Love at all. Like a man in a swoun, whose pulse and breathing is so weak and obscure, that it can hardly be perceived whether they move at all, and consequently, whether the man be alive or dead.

The chief Remedy for such would be,* 1.2 To follow on their du∣ty till their Graces be increased: Ply your work: Wait upon God in the use of his prescribed means, and he will undoubtedly bless you with Increase and Strength. Oh that Christians would bestow most of that time in getting more Grace, which they be∣stow in Anxious doubtings, whether they have any or none: And that they would lay out those Serious Affections in Praying, and seeking to Christ for more Grace, which they bestow in fruitless Complaints of their supposed Gracelesness! I beseech thee, Christian, take this advice as from God: And then, when thou Believest strongly, and Lovest fervently, thou canst not doubt whether thou do Believe and Love or not: No more then a man that is burning hot can doubt whether he be warm; or a man that is strong and lusty can doubt whether he be alive. Strong Affections will make you feel them. Who loveth his friend, or wife, or child, or any thing strongly, and doth not know it? A great measure of Grace is seldom doubted of: Or if it be, you may quickly find when you seek and try.

Notes

• * 1.1

  §. 10. Some further Hinderances which keep some Christi∣ans without Assurance and Comfort.
• * 1.2

  Remedy.