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pleases him, rather than any way troubles him, that he has so maliciously and blasphemously rejected, or fallen from, persecuted, and spoken blasphemously against the good way of salvation by Christ, and against the gracious operations of the Spirit, and against the members of Christ; although he was once convinced clearly, that this is the only way of salvation, and that those graces and gifts were from God, and that they were the dear children of God, whom he now despises.

SECT. 5. OF FEARS ARISING FROM AN ACCUSING CONSCIENCE.

Others, if not the same persons, object thus: God will certainly condemn, because John has said, If their hearts condemn them, God is greater than their hearts, 1 John iii. 20. Hence they infer, God will condemn them much more. For, they say, their hearts do condemn them.

There is a double judgment by the heart and conscience. It judges a man's state or person, whether he be in a state of grace, or no. Also, it judges a man's own particular actions, whether they be good or no. I take it, that this place of John is not to be understood of judging or condemning the person; for God in his final judgment does not judge according to what a man's weak and erroneous conscience judges, making it the rule of his judgment to condemn or absolve any. For many a man, in his presumption, justifies himself in his life, when yet God will condemn him in the world to come, Hosea xii. 8; Luke xviii. 11; and many a distressed soul, like the prodigal, Luke xv. 18, 19, and humble publican, Luke xviii. 13, 14, condemns himself, when yet God will absolve him. For a man may have peace with God, yet God, for reasons best known to his wisdom, does not presently speak peace to his conscience, as it was with David; in which case, man judges of his estate otherwise than God does.