when men of this description hate all signs: but no wonder if the foundered horse cannot abide the smith's pincers.

TIM. Proceed, I pray, in your signs of sincerity.

PHIL. Art thou careful to order thy very thoughts, because the Infinite Searcher of the heart doth behold them? Dost thou freely and fully confess thy sins to God, spreading them open in his presence, without any desire or endeavour to deny, dissemble, defend, excuse, or extenuate them? Dost thou delight in an universal obedience to all God's laws, not thinking with the superstitious Jews, by over keeping the fourth commandment, to make reparation to God for breaking all the rest? Dost thou love their persons and preaching best, who most clearly discover thine own faults and corruptions unto thee? Dost thou strive against thy revengeful nature, not only to forgive those who have offended thee, but also to wait an occasion with humility to render a suitable favour to them? Dost thou love grace and goodness even in those who differ from thee in point of opinion and civil controversies? Canst thou be sorrowful for the sins of others, no whit relating unto thee, merely because the glory of a good God suffers by their profaneness?

TIM. Why do you make these to be the signs of sincerity?

PHIL. Because there are but two principles, which act in men's hearts, namely, nature and grace; or, as Christ distinguishes them, flesh and blood, and our Father which is Heaven. Now

seeing these actions, by us propounded, are either against or above nature, it doth necessarily follow, that where they are found, they flow from saving grace. For what is higher than the roof and very pinnacle, as I may say, of nature, cannot be lower than the bottom and beginning of grace.

TIM. Perchance, on serious search, I may make hard shift to find some one or two of these signs, but not all of them in my heart.

PHIL. As I will not bow to flatter any, so I will fall down as far as truth will give me leave, to reach comfort to the humble, to whom it is due. Know to thy further consolation, that where some of these signs truly are, there are more, yea all of them, though not so visible and conspicuous, but in a dimmer and darker degree. When we behold violets and primroses fairly to flourish, we conclude the dead of the winter is past, though as yet no roses or July flowers appear, which long after, lie hid in their leaves, or lurk in their roots; but in due time will discover themselves. If some of these signs be above ground in thy sight, others are under ground in thy heart, and though the former started first, the other will follow in order; it being plain that thou art passed from death unto life, by this hopeful and happy spring of some signs in thy heart.

DIALOGUE X.

Answers to the Objections of a wounded Conscience, drawn from the Feebleness of his Faith.

TIMOTHEUS.

UT faith is that which must apply Christ

BUT
Bunto us, whilst (alas!) the hand of my

faith hath not only the shaking, but the dead palsy; it can neither hold nor feel any thing.

PHIL. If thou canst not hold God, do but touch him and he shall hold thee, and put feeling into thee. Saint Paul saith, If that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.* It is not Paul's apprehending of Christ, but Christ apprehending of Paul, doth the deed.

TIM. But I am sure my faith is not sound, because it is not attended with assurance of salvation. For I doubt (not to say despair) thereof. Whereas divines hold, that the essence of saving faith consists in a certainty to be saved.

PHIL. Such deliver both a false and dangerous doctrine; as the careless mother† killed her little infant, for she over-laid it so this opinion would press many weak faiths to death, by laying a greater weight upon them than they can bear, or God doth impose; whereas to be assured of salvation, is not a part of every true faith, but only

Phil. iii. 19.

+1 Kings iii. 19.

an effect of some strong faiths, and that also not always, but at some times.

TIM. Is not certainty of salvation a part of every true faith?

PHIL. No verily, much less is it the life and formality of faith, which consists only in a recumbency on God in Christ, with Job's resolution, Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.* Such an adherence, without an assurance, is sufficient by God's mercy to save thy soul. Those that say that none have a sincere faith without a certainty of salvation, may with as much truth maintain, that none are the king's loyal subjects, but such as are his favourites.

TIM. Is then assurance of salvation a peculiar personal favour, indulged by God, only to some particular persons?

PHIL. Yes verily though the salvation of all God's servants be sure in itself, yet is only assured to the apprehensions of some select people, and that at some times; for it is too fine fare for the best man to feed on every day.

TIM. May they that have this assurance, afterwards lose it?

PHIL. Undoubtedly they may: God first is gracious to give it them, they for a time careful to keep it; then negligently lose it, then sorrowfully seek it. God again is bountiful to restore it; they happy to recover it; for a while diligent to regain it, then again foolish to forfeit it, and so

* Job. xiii. 15.

the same changes in one's life time, often over and over again.

TIM. But some will say, If I may be infallibly saved without this assurance, I will never endeavour to attain it.

PHIL. I would have covered my flowers, if I had suspected such spiders would have sucked them. One may go to heaven without this assurance, as certainly, but not so cheerfully, and therefore prudence to obtain our own comfort, and piety to obey God's command, obliges us all to give diligence to make our calling and election sure, both in itself and in our apprehension.

DIALOGUE XI.

God alone can satisfy all Objections of a wounded Conscience.

BUT

TIMOTHEUS.

UT, Sir, these your answers are no whit satisfactory unto me.

PHIL. An answer may be satisfactory to the objection, both in itself, and in the judgment of all unprejudiced hearers, and yet not satisfactory to the objector, and that in two cases: First, when he is possessed with the spirit of peevishness and perverseness. It is lost labour to seek to feed and fill those, who have a greedy horseleech of cavilling in their heart, crying, Give, give. TIM. What is the second case?

PHIL. When the bitterness of his soul is so