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Satan and from a deceitful heart, and you must not believe them. But if these persuasions be from a right application of true grounds, and do produce these good effects, to drive you to God, in praise or prayer, and unto a care to please God, they are from his gracious Spirit.

SECT. 2. THE CAUSES OF PRESUMPTION, OR FALSE PEACE.

The false peace and evil quiet of conscience arises from these three causes:

First, From gross ignorance of the danger wherein a man lives because of sin, Eph. iv. 18, 19, whence follows a blind conscience.

Secondly, From groundless security and presumption that all shall be well with him, notwithstanding that he knows he has sinned, Deut. xxix. 19, and knows that sin is damnable; whence he has a deluded conscience.

Thirdly, From obstinacy, through delight and custom in sin, Jer. xliv. 16, 17, whence comes hardness and insensibility of heart, which is a seared conscience.

Wheresoever any of these evils reign, although God has said there is no peace to the wicked, Isa. lvii. 21, that is, no true peace; yet such fear no evil; but promise to themselves peace and safety, 1 Thess. v. 3, like those of whom the prophet spake, who had made a covenant with death, and with hell were at an agreement, Isa. xxviii. 15. Yea, though they hear all the curses against sinners, which are in God's book denounced against them; yet will they bless themselves in their heart, and say, they shall have peace, though they walk in the stubbornness of their hearts, Deut. xxix. 19. But whosoever is thus quiet in himself through a false peace, it is a sign that the strong man keeps the house, Luke xi. 21, and that he, continuing in this fool's paradise, is not far from sudden and fearful destruction from the Almighty, 1 Thess. v. 3. Deut. xxix. 20.