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fully in doing their master's or father's will, except they may receive the promised wages, in good part aforehand, or every day; or except they may have a good part of the promised inheritance presently, and in hand. Feeling of comfort is part of a Christian's wages and inheritance, to be received at the good pleasure of God, that freely gives it, rather than a Christian duty. To comfort and stay ourselves on God in distress, is a duty, but this joyful sense and feeling of God's favour, is a gracious favour of God towards us, not a duty of ours towards God. It argues too much distrust in God, and too much self-respect, when we have no heart to go about his work, except we be full of feeling of his favour. He is the best child, or servant, that will obey out of love, duty, and conscience; and will trust in God and wait on him for his wages and recompence.

Thirdly, When you say, you cannot feel that you have faith or hope, you mean, as indeed many good souls do, you cannot find and perceive, that these graces are in you in truth, which, if you did, you would not doubt of your salvation. My answer is, if faith and hope be in you, then if you would judiciously inquire into yourselves, and feel for them, you may find and feel them, and know that you have them; for, as certainly as he that sees bodily, may know that he sees; so he that has the spiritual sight of faith, may know that he has faith. Wherefore try and feel for your faith, and you shall find whether it be in you, yea or no.

(3.) The nature and properties of saving faith.

For this cause, (1.) Try whether you ever had the necessary preparatives, which ordinarily make way for the seed of faith to take root in the soul. (2.) Consider the nature of saving faith, and whether it has wrought in you accordingly. (3.) Consider some consequents and certain effects thereof.

First, Concerning the preparatives to faith. Has the law shut you up, in your apprehension, under the curse, so that you have been afraid of hell And has the Spirit also convinced you of sin by the gospel, to