How To Keep Your Heart From Desperate Conclusions

The Narrated Puritan

There are two general heads, to which the grounds of doubting our sincerity may be reduced. 1. God's carriage towards the soul, either in the time of some extraordinary affliction, or of some long and sad desertion. Or, 2, The soul's carriage towards God- and here it usually argues against the truth of its own graces- either 1. From its relapses into the same sins, from which it hath formerly risen with shame and sorrow. Or, 2. From the sensible declining of its affections from God. Or, 3. From the excess of the affections towards creature-comforts and enjoyments. Or, 4. From its enlargements in public and often straitnings in private duties. Or, 5. From some horrid injections of Satan, with which the soul is greatly perplexed. Or, Lastly, from God's silence, and seeming denial of its long depending suits and prayers.