The Saints' Everlasting Rest - Richard Baxter

them what they are, than at precepts which tell them what they should do; as
if their present must needs be their everlasting state; and if they be now
unpardoned, there were no remedy. Were he not mad that would lie weeping
because he is not pardoned, when his prince stands by all the while, offering
him a pardon, and persuading him to accept of it? Justifying faith, Christian,
is not thy persuasion of God's special love to thee, but thy accepting Christ to
make thee lovely. It is far better to accept Christ as offered, than spend so
much time in doubting whether we have Christ or not.
Another cause of distress to Christians is their mistaking assurance for
the joy that sometimes accompanies it; as if a child should think himself a
son no longer than while he sees the smiles of his father's face, or hears the
comfortable expressions of his mouth; and as if the father ceased to be a
father whenever he ceased those smiles and speeches.
The trouble of souls is also increased by their not knowing the ordinary
way of God's conveying comfort. They think they have nothing to do but to
wait when God will bestow it. But they must know that the matter of their
comfort is in the promises, and thence they must draw it as often as they
expect it, by daily and diligently meditating upon the promises; and in this
way they may expect the Spirit will communicate comfort to their souls. The
joy of the promises and the joy of the Holy Ghost are one: add to this, their
expecting a greater measure of assurance than God usually bestows. As long
as they have any doubting, they think they have no assurance. They consider
not that there are many degrees of certainty. While they are here, they shall
"know but in part." Add also their deriving their comfort at first from
insufficient grounds. This may be the case of a gracious soul, who hath better
grounds but doth not see them. As an infant hath life before he knoweth it,
and many misapprehensions of himself and other things, yet it will not
follow that he hath no life. So when Christians find a flaw in their first
comforts, they are not to judge it a flaw in their safety.
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