-- Tit. 1. Cases of Conscience about Self-judging
Cases and Directions about Self-judging Tit. 1. Cases of Conscience about Self-judging
BECAUSE I have said so much of this subject in the third part of my "Saints' Rest," and in a "Treatise of Self-acquaintance," and in my
"Directions for Peace of Conscience," and before in this book, I shall be here the briefer in it.
Quest. I. 'What are the uses and reasons of self-judging, which should move us to it?'
Answ. In the three foresaid Treatises I have opened them at large. In a word, without it, we shall be strangers to ourselves; we can have no well-grounded comfort, no true repentance and humiliation, no just estimation of Christ and grace, no just observance of the motions of God's Spirit, no true application of the promises or threatenings of the Scripture, yea, we shall pervert them all to our own destruction; no true understanding of the providence of God, in prosperity or adversity; no just acquaintance with our duty: a man that knoweth not himself, can know neither God, or any thing aright, nor do any thing aright; he can neither live reasonably, honestly, safely nor comfortably, nor suffer or die with solid peace.
Quest. II. 'What should ignorant persons do, whose natural capacity will not reach to so high a work, as to try and judge themselves in matters so sublime?'
Answ. 1. There is no one who hath reason and parts sufficient to love God; and hate sin, and live a holy life, and believe in Christ, but he hath reason and parts sufficient to know (by the use of just means) whether he do these things indeed or not. 2. He that cannot reach assurance, must take up with the lower degrees of comfort, of which I shall speak in the Directions.
Quest. III. 'How far may a weak Christian take the judgment of others, whether his pastor, or judicious acquaintance, about his