Part 7
But in the unregenerate, whatever conflicts they have with fin, no corruption falls before it: It may be said of them, as the church in another case complains of herself, Ifa. xxvi. 18 . " We have been in pain, we have, as it were, brought forth " wind. We have not wrought any deliverance in the earth, " neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen." So it fares with these profeflors ; they pray, they hear, they vow, they resolve, but when all is done, their lusts are as strong and vigorous as ever : No degree ofmortification appears after all.
And thus much of the trial of our sincerity by our carriage toward fin.
CHAP. VII.
Shewing what proof or trial is made of the foundness or unfoundness of our graces by the duties of religion which we perform. W
SECT . І. E now come (according to the method proposed) to make trial of the truth or falseness of grace, by the
176 Religious Duties are Heart-discoveries. duties we daily perform in religion. And certainly they also have the use and efficacy of fire, for this discovery, 1 John i i. 4, 5. " He that faith I know him, and keepeth not his com " mandments [is a liar] and the truth is not in him : But " whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God " perfected : And hereby know we that we are in him."
This is a practical lie, of which the apostle speaks here ; by which men deceive others for a while, and themselves forever ; a lie not spoken, but done, when am an's course of life contradicts his profession. The life of an hypocrite is but one longer or continued lie ; he faith or profeffeth he knows God, but takes no care at all to obeyhimin the dutieshecommands; he either neglects them, or if he performs them, it is not as God requires : " If they draw nigh to him with their lips, yet "their heart is far from him," Ifa. xxix. 13. " Thou art near " in their mouth, but far from their reins," Jer. xii . 2 .
There are some, that feel the influence and power of their communion with the Lord in duties,going down to their very reins : And there are others, whose lips and tongues only are touched with religion.
/ This is an age of light and much profession : Men cannot now keep up a reputation in the sober and professing world, whilst they letdown, and totally neglect the duties of religion; but surely, ifmenwould be but just to themselves, their very performances of duty wouldtellthem what their hearts are. F
SECT . II. OR there are, among others, these following particulars, that do very clearly difference the found from the unfoundprofeffor.
1. First, The designs and true levels and aims of mens hearts in duty will tell thern what they are.
Anhypocriteaims low; Hos. vii. 14. " They have not cri- " ed unto me with their heart when they howled upon their " beds; they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they " rebel against me." It is not Christ, and pardon, formortification, and holiness, but for corn, and wine; thus they make a market of religion ; all their ends in duty are either carnal, natural, or legal ; either to accommodate their carnal ends, or satisfy and quiet their consciences ; and so their duties are performed as a fin-offering to God.
But an uprighthearthath very high and pure aims in duty; "The desire of their soul is to God," Ifa. xxvi. 8. " Their
Religious Duties are Heart-discoveries. 177 foul follows hard after God," Psal. Ixiii. 8. " Onethinghave "I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may "dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to fee " thebeautyofthe Lord, and to enquire in his temple," Psal. xxvii. 4. These are the true eagles that play at the fun, and will not stooptolow and earthly objects. Alas ! if the enjoyment of God be missed in a duty, it is not the greatest enlargements of gifts willfatisfy ;he comes back like am an that hath takenalongjourney to meet his friend upon important business, and lost his labour; his friend was not there.
2. Secondly, The engagements ofmens hearts to God in duties will tell them what they are; the hypocrite takes little heed to his heart, Ifa. xxix. 13. They are not afflicted really for the hardness, deadness, unbeliefandwanderings of their hearts in duty, as upright ones are; nor do they engage their hearts, and lab our to get them up with God in duty, as his people do. " I have in treated thy favour with my whole heart," faith David, Psal. cxix. 58. They are not pleased in duty until they feel their hearts stand towards God like a bow in its full bent. I say, it is not always fo with them ; what would they give that it might be so ? But, surely, if their souls in duty be - empty of God, they are filled with troubleandforrow.
3. Thirdly, The conscience thatmen make offecret, as well as public duties, will tell them what their hearts and graces - are; whether true or false. A vain professor is curious in the = former,and either negligent, or, at best, formal in the latter ; for he finds no inducements ofhonour, applause, or of tent a tion of gifts, externallymoving him to them ; nor hath he a nyexperience of the sweetness and benefit of such duties in ternally to allure and engage his soul to them.
The hypocrite therefore is not for the closet, but the synagogue, Matth. vi. 5, 6. Not but that education, example, or the impulseofconfcience, may sometimes drive him thither ; but it is no this daily delight to be there ; his meat and drink to retire from the clamour of the world to enjoy God in ser cret. It is the observation of their duties is the great inducement to these men to perform them; and, verily, faith our Lord, ver. 2. " they have their reward," απέχεσι, they have it away, or they have carried off all the benefit and advantage that ever they shall have by religion. Much good may it do them with their applause and honour, let them makemuchof that airy reward, for it is all that ever they shall have.
But now for afoul truly gracious, he cannot long fubfift VOL. VII. Z
178 Religious Duties are Heart-discoveries. without secret prayer. It is true, there is not always an equal freedom and delight, a like enlargement and comfort in those retirements ; but yet he cannot be without them ; he finds the want of his secret, in his public duties: If he and his God have not met in secret, and hadfome communion in the morning, he sensibly finds it in the deadness and unprofitableness of his heart and life all the day after.
4. Fourthly, The spirituality of our duties tries the sincerity of our graces : An unregenerate heart is carnal, whilst engaged in duties that are spiritual. Some men deceive themselves in thinking they are spiritualmen, because their employments and calling is about spiritual things, Hofea ix. 7. This indeed gives them the denomination, but not the frame of spiritual men; andothersjudgethemfelves fpiritualperfons, because they frequently perform and attend upon spiritual duties: But, alas, the heart and state maybe carnal not with-
this. O, my friends, it is not enough that the object of your duties is spiritual,that they respect an holy God; nor that the matter be spiritual,that you be converfant about holy things; but the frame of your heart must be spiritual ; an heavenly temperoffoul is necessary, and what are the most heavenly duties without it ?
The end anddesignyou aim at must be spiritual,the enjoy. ment of God, and a growing conformity to him in holiness; else multiply duties as the sand on the sea-shore, and they all will not amount to one evidence of your sincerity. "God is " my witness, whom I serve with my spirit," faith the apostle, Rom. i. 9. He seems to appeal to God in this matter. I serve Godinmyfpirit, and God knows that Ido so ; I dare appeal to him that it is fo ; he knows that my heart is with him, or would be with him in my duties: The arms of my faith do either sensibly grasp, or are stretched out towards him in my duties. O how little favour do gracious hearts find in the most excellent duties, if God and their foulsdo not sensibly meet in them !
Certainly, reader, there isatimewhen God comes nigh to men in duty,when he deals familiarlywith men, and sensibly fills theirfouls with unusual powers and delights. The near approaches of God to theirfouls are felt by them, (for fouls have their senses as well as bodies) and now are their minds abstracted and marvellously refined from all that is material and earthly, and swallowed up in spiritual excellencies and glories.
are the real prelibations, or foretastesofglory, which
Religious Duties are Heart-discoveries. 179 no man can by words, make another to understand, as he himself doth that feels them.
I confess,do but rarely occur to the best of Christians, nor continue long when they do* : Alas ! this wine is too strong for such weak bottles as we are. Hold, Lord, (an ⚫holymansaidonce,) it is enough thy poor creature is a clay ' vessel, and can hold no more : This is that joy unspeakable, and full of glory, which is mentioned, 1 Pet. i. 7, 8. Somethingthatwords cannot describe. These seasons are the golden spots of our lives, when we are admitted to these near and ineffable views and tastes of God: Possibly some poor Chriftianscan say but little to these things ; theirforrows are exercised in duties more than theirjoys; they are endeavouring to mount, but the stone hangs at the heel; they essay,but cannot rife to that height that others do, who are got up by their labouring faith into the upper region, and there display their wings, and sing in the fun-beams: But though they cannot reach this height, yet have they no satisfaction in duties wherein there is no intercourse betwixt God and their souls.
That which contents another, will not content a Christian. If the king be absent,men will bow to the empty chair ; but if God be absent, an empty duty gives no satisfaction to a gracious spirit. The poorest Christian isfoundpanting after God by sincere desires, and labouring to getup that dead and vain heart to God in duty,(though,alas! it is many times but the rolling of the returning stone against the hill)yet he never expects advantage by thatdutywherein the Spirit of God is not; nor doth he expect the Spirit of God should be where his own spirit is not.
5. Fifthly, Affiduityand constancy in the duties of religion make a notable discovery of the foundness or rottenneis of mens hearts. The hypocrite may shew some zeal and forwardness in duties for a time, but he willjade and give out at length ; Job xxvii. 10. " Will he delight himself in theAl- " mighty ? Will he always call upon God?" No, he will not. If his motions in religion were natural, they would be constant; but they are artificial, and he is moved by external inducements, and so must needs be off and on ; heprays himZ2
It isa sweet hour, and it is but an hour, (athing ofthort continuance:) The relish of it is exceeding sweet, but it is not often | that Christians taste it. Bernard,
1.80 Religious Duties are Heart-discoveries. self weary of praying, and hears himself weary of hearing : His heart is not delighted in his duties, and therefore his duties must needs grow stale anddrytohim after awhile. There be three seasons in which the zeal of an hypocrite maybe inflamed in duties.
First, When some imminent danger threatens him ; some smart rod of God is shaken over him; " When he flew them, " then they fought him, and returned andenquiredearlyaf- " ter God," Psalm Ixxviii. 34. Othe goodly words they give, the fair promises they make ! and yet all the while "they do but flatter him with their lips, and lie unto him "with their tongues," ver. 36, 37. for let butthatdangerpass over, and the heavens clear up again,and he willreftrain prayer, and return to his old course again.
Secondly, Whenthetimes countenance and favour religion, and the wind is in his back, O what zeal will he have for God! So in the stony ground, Matth. xiii. 5. the feed sprung up and flourisheduntilthefunofpersecution arose, and then it fadedaway, for it had no depth of earth, no deep solid inward work or principle of grace to maintain it. 1 Thirdly, Whenfelf-ends and designs are accommodated and promoted by these things. This was the case of Jehu, 2Kings x. 16. "Come, see my Zeal;" for what? For a base self interest, not for God. How fervently will some men pray, preach, and profess,whilst they sensibly feel the incomes and profits of these duties to their flesh; whilst they are admired and applauded!
external incentives will put an hypocrite into an hot fit of zeal; but then, as it is with a man, whose colours are raised by the heat of the fire, and not by the healthfulness ofa goodconftitution, it soon fades and falls again. But, blessed be God, it is not so with all : The man whose heart is upright with his God,will " keep judgment, and do " righteousness at all times," Psal. cvi. 3. Whether dangers threaten or no ; whether the times favour religion or no ; whether his earthly interest be promoted by it or no, he will be holy still, he will not part with his duties when they are ftript naked of those external advantages ; as the addition of these things to religion did not at first engage him, sothefub-
Ifhisdutybecome his reproach,yet Moses will not forsake it, Heb. xi. 26. If he lose his company, and be left alone, yet Paul will not flinch from his duty, 2 Tim. iv. 16. If hazard surround duty on every side, yet Daniel will not quit
Religious Duties are Heart-discoveries
it,Dan. vi. 10. for theyconfideredthesethings at first, and counted the cost ; they still find religion is rich enough to pay the cost of all that they can lose, or suffer for its sake; yea, and that with an hundred-fold reward now in this life. They never had anyotherdesign in engaging in religious duties,but to help them to heaven; and if they recover heaven at last, whether the way to it prove better or worse, they have their design and ends ; and therefore they will be stedfaft, " always " abounding in the work of the Lord, as knowing their labour " is not in vain in the Lord," 1 Cor. xv. ult . 6. Sixthly, The humility and self-denial of our hearts in duties, will try what they are for their integrity and sincerity towards God. Doth a man boast in his own excellencies in prayer,as the Pharisee did, Luke xviii. 10, 11. " God, I thank " thee, I am not as other men:" Which he speaks not in an humble acknowledgment of the grace of God which differencesmanfrom man, but ina proudoftentation of his own excellencies. Doth a man make his duties his saviours, and trust to them inavainconfidenceoftheirworth and dignity ? Luke xviii. 9. Surely, " his heart, which is thus lifted up within "him, is not upright," Hab. ii.4. But if the heart be upright indeed, it will express its humility, as in all other things, fo especially in its duties wherein it approaches the great and holy God.
First, It will manifest its humilityinthose awful andreverential apprehenfions it hath of God, as Abraham did, Gen. xviii. 27. " And now, I that am but dust and ashes, (faith he) "havetakenuponme to speak unto God." The humllityof Abraham's spirit is,in some measure,to be found in all Abraham's children .
Secondly, In those low and vile thoughts they have of themselves and their religious performances : Thus that poor penitent,Lukevii.38.stood behind Christ weeping : " Yet the dogs " eat the crumbs," faith another, Mark vii. 28. " I am more " brutish than anyman," faith a third, Prov.xxx. 7. " Iabhor "myself in dust and ashes," saith a fourth, Job xlii. 6. and as little esteem they have for their performances, Ifa. lxiv. 6. " All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Idenynotbut there is pride and vanity in the most uprightones ; but what place soever it finds in their converses with men, it finds little room in their converses with God,or if it doth, they loath it, and themselves for it.
Thirdly, But especiallytheirhumility in duty is discovered in renouncing alltheirdutiesin point of dependence, and re
182 Religious Duties are Heart-discoveries. lying entirely upon Christ for righteousness and acceptance : They have special regard to duties in point of obedience, but none at all in point of reliance.
7. Seventhly, The communion and intercourse which is betwixt God and men in duties, notably discovers what their persons and graces are. And it must needs do so, because what communion soever the hypocrite hath with duties, or with saints in duties, to be sure he hath none with God.
None can come nigh to God in duty, but those that are made nigh by reconciliation : All special communion with Christ is founded in real union with Christ; but " the wicked " are estranged from the womb," Psalm lviii. 3.
But now there is real communion betwixt God and his people in duties. Truly our fellowship, noivavia, our communion is with the Father and Son, I John i. 3. God pours forth of his Spirit upon them, and they pour forth their hearts to God.
It is sensibly manifested to them when the Lord comes nigh to their souls in duty, and as sensible they are of his retreats and withdrawments from their souls, Cant. iii. 1, 4. They find their hearts, like the heliotrope, open and shut according to the accesses and recesses of the divine presence. They that never felt any thing of this nature, may call it a faney, but the Lord's people are abundantly satisfied of the reality thereof.
Their very countenance is altered by it, I Sam. i. 18. the sad and cloudy countenance of Hannah cleared up, there was fair weather in her very face, as soon as she knew the had audience and acceptance with her God. I know all communion with God doth not consist in joys and comforts ; there is as realcommunionwith God in the mortifying and humbling influences of his Spirit upon men, as in the cheering and refreshing influences thereof. I know also there is a great diversity in the degrees and measures thereof: It is not alike in all Christians, nor with the fame Christian at all times. But that real Christians have true and real communion with God in their duties, is a truth as manifest in spiritual sense and experience of the saints, as their communion is one with another.
8. Eightly, Growth and improvement of grace in duties, notably differences the found and the unfoundheart. All the duties in the world will never make an hypocrite more holy, humble, or heavenly than he is ; but will, as the watering of a dry stick, sooner rot it, than make it flourishing and fruitful. What was Judas the better for all those heavenly fer
mons, prayers, and discourses of Christ which he heard ? And whatwillthy foul be the better for all the duties thouperformestweeklyanddaily, if thy heart be unsound ? It is plain, from Job xv. 4 there must be an implantation into Christ, before therecanbe an improvement in fruitful obedience. And it is as plain, from 1 John ii. 14. that the virtues of ordinances must remain; the efficacy and powers that we sometimes feel under them, must abide and remain in the heart afterwards, or we cannot grow, and be made fruitful by them.
But the false professor is neither rooted in Christ by union with him, nor doth, or can retain the virtue ofordinances with in him; but, like one that views his face in a glass, quickly forgets what manner of man he was; his head indeed may grow, his knowledge may increase, but he hath a dead and withered heart.
But as the saints have real communion with God in duties, so they do make improvements answerable thereunto : There is more certainly aripeningoftheir graces that way; achangingorgradual transformationfromglory to glory ; a springing up to that full ftatureofthe man in Christ. "They that " are planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the " courts of our God," Psal. xcii. 13, 14. There is pure and sincere milk inthebreastsof ordinances ; a believer fucks the very breasts of Christ in his duties, and doth grow thereby, 1 Pet. ii. 2. theydogrowmoreand more judicious, experienced, humble, mortified,and heavenly,byconverfing with the Lord
sofrequentlyinhis appointments.
There is, I confess, a more difcernable growth and ripening in some Christians,than in others: The faith offome groweth exceedingly, 2 Theff. i. 3. others more slowly, Heb. v. 12. but yet there are improvements of grace in all upright ones : habits are more deeply radicated, or fruits of obedience more increased.
: Object. If any upright foul be stumbled at this, as not being able to discern the increase of his graces, after all his duties.
Sol. Let such consider the growth of grace is discerned as thegrowthofplants is,which we perceive rather creviffe, quam crefcere; to have grown, than to grow: Compare time past and present, and you may fee it; but usually our eager desires after more, make us overlook what we have as nothing.
9. Ninthly, The assistances and influences of the Spirit in duties, shews us what we are ; no vital fanctifying influences can fall upon carnal hearts in duties: The Spirit helps not their
184 The Advantages of Sincerity. inarmities, nor makes intercession for them with groanings which cannot be uttered, as he doth for his own people, Rom. viii. 26, 27. They have his assistances in the way of common gifts, but not in the way of special grace: He may enable them topreachjudicioufly,not experimentally ; to pray orderly and neatly, not feelingly, believingly, and broken-heartedly; " For as many as are led by the SpiritofGod, they are the sons " of God," Rom. viii. 14. He never so assists,but where he hath first sanctified. Carnal men furnish the materials of their duties out of the strength of their parts ; a strong memory, a goodinventionare the fountainswhencetheydraw. But it is otherwise with souls truly gracious ; they have ordinarily athreefold assistance from the Spirit in reference to their duties.
First, Before duties, exciting them to it, making them feel their need of it, like the call of an empty stomach ; Psalm xxvii. 8. " Thou faidft, Seek my face ; my heart answered, "Thy face, Lord, will Ifeek."
Secondly, In their duties. furnishing both matter and affec tion, as in that text lately cited, Rom. viii. 26. guiding them not only what to ask, but how to aik.
Thirdly, Aftertheirduties,helpingthemnot only to suppress the pride and vanity of their spirits,but also to wait on God for the accomplishment of their desires. Now, though all these things, wherein the sincerity of our hearts is tried in duties,befoundingreatvariety (as to degrees) among saints, yet they are mysteries unknown by experience toothermen.
CHAP. VIII.
Opening the trials offincerity and hypocrisy, byfufferings upon the account of religion.
SECT. I.
viz. by sufferings for religion. WE
E are now arrived at the last trial of grace propounded, Thousands ofhypocritesembark themselves in the profession ofreligionina calm;but ifthewindriseth, and these a rageth, and they fee religion will not transport them safely to the cape of their earthly hopes and expectations,theydefire to be landed
The Advantages of Sincerity. 185 again as soon as may be ; for they never intended to ride out a storm for Christ : So you find, Matth. xiii. 20, 21. " He en- " dureth for a while, but when tribulation or persecution " ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended."
But yet it is not every trial by sufferings that separates gold fromdross ; and therefore my business will be to shew,
1. First, When the fire of sufferings and persecution i shot and vehement enough to separate them.
2. Secondly, Why it must needs discoverhypocrifywhenit isatthatheight.
3. Thirdly, What advantages sincere grace hath to endure thatfevere and sharp trial.
SECT . II. OW the fire of persecution, or sufferings for religi
1.N on, maybe judged intense, and high enough to separate gold and dross ; First, When religion exposes us to imminent hazard of our deepest and dearest interests in this world : Such are our liberties, estates and lives : Then it is a fierce and fiery trial indeed. Sometimes it exposes the liberties of its professors,Rev. ii. 10. " The devil shall cast some of you into prison." Sometimes their estates,Heb. x. 34. " Ye took joyfully the spoiling of " your goods;" and sometimes their lives, Heb. xi. 37. " Theywerestoned, they were fawn asunder, they were slain " with the sword." Whilst it goes nohigherthan some small inconveniencies of life, reputation and sense of honour will hold a false heart; but when it comes to this, few will be found able to endure it, but those that expect to save no more by religion but their souls, and account themselves in good case, iftheycan but save them with the loss of all that is dear to them in this world.
Here the falseheartboggles; here it usuallyjades and faulters.
Secondly, The fiery trial is then high, when there remains no visible hopes of deliverance, or outward encouragements to sense, that the scene will alter. When"we see not our signs, "there is no more any prophet, nor any that can tellushow "long," as the case with the church was, Psal.lxxiv. 9. Then theirhandshangdown, and their hearts faint : Nor is it to be wondredat, when the length of troubles prove so forea temptationevento the upright, to put forth their hands to iniquity; as it is Psal. cxxv. 3. If such a temptation shake such men VOL . VI. Aa
186 The Advantages of Sincerity. as build on the rock, it must quite overturn those whose fourdation is but sand.
Thirdly, When a false professor is engaged alone in sufferings, and is fingledoutfrom the herd, as a deer, to be run down, now it is a thousand to one but he quits religion to fave himself: Good company will encourage a faint-hearted traveller to jog on agreatway ; but if he be forsaken by all, as Paul was, no man to standby him ; if left alone, as Elijah was, whatcanencouragehim to hold out ?
Indeed, if they had the same invisible supports those good men had, that the Lord was with them, that would keep them
but wanting that encouragement from within, and all shrinking away from without, they quickly tire downright.
Fourthly, When near relations and intimates of pose and tempt us. The prophet speaks of a time "when a man's ene- "mies shall be the men of his own house ;" it may be the wife of his bosom, Micah vii.5, 6. Owhat a trial is that which
Christ mentions in Luke xiv. 26. when we must hate father and mother, wife and children, or quit claim to Christ and heaven ! This is hard work indeed.
Howharddid that truly noble and renowned Galeacius Carracciolus find this! O what a conflict found he in his bowels ! Now Christ and our dearest interest come to meet like twomenupon a narrow bridge ; ifone go forward, the other must go back, and nowthepredominate intereftcanno longer be concealed.
Fifthly, When powerful temptations are mixed with cruel sufferings ; when we are strongly tempted, as well as cruelly persecuted: This blows up the fire to a vehementheight. This was the trial ofthosepreciousprimitivebelievers, Heb. xi. 35, 37. "They were stoned, theywerefawn asunder, they were " tempted." Here was life, liberty, and preferment set upononehand, and death, in the most formidable shape, upon the other. This cannot but be a great trial to any, but efpeciallywhen a cruel death, and tender temper meet, then the trial goes high indeed.
SECT . III. ND that such sufferings as these will discover the 2.A falseness and rottenness of mens hearts, cannot be doubted: Ifyouconsiderthat this is thefiredesignedby God, for this very use and purpose, to separate the gold from the dross; fo you will find it, I Pet. iv. 12. " Beloved, think it not " strange concerning the fierytrialwhich is totryyou," i. e
The Advantages of Sincerity. 1871 the very design and aim of providence in permitting and ordering them, is to try you. The design of Satan is to destroy you; but God's design is to try you. Upon this account you find thehourofpersecution (in a suitable notion) called "the " hour of temptation or probation," Rev. iii. 10. forthenprofeffors are fiftedto the very bran ; searched to the very bottom principles. " This is the day that burns as an oven, in "which all the proud, and all that do wickedly, shall be as " stubble," Mal. iv. 1. For, 1. First, In that day the predominant interest must appear, and be discovered : It can be concealed no longer ; "Noman "can serve two masters," saith Christ, Luke xvi. 13. Am an mayservemany masters, iftheyallcommandthefamethings, or things subordinate to each other ; but he cannot serve two masters, if their commands clash and interfere with each o ther: And such are the commands of Christ and the flesh in a suffering hour. Christ faith, " Be thou faithful to the death;" the flesh faith, Spare thyself, and secure the comforts of life. Christ faith, " He that loveth father or mother, wife or chil- " dren, lands or inheritance morethanme, is not worthy of " me." Flesh faith, He that will grieveandbreak the heart of fuck dear relations, and forsake, when he might keep such earthly accommodations, is not worthy of them.
Thus the two interests come in full opposition : and now have but patience to wait a little, and you shall discern which ispredominant. A dog follows two men, while they both walk one way, and you know not which of the two is his ma-
but a little till their path parts, and then you shall quickly fee who is his master : So is it in this case.
2. Secondly, Inthatdaysensible supports fail,and all a man's relief comes in by the pureandimmediate actings of faith ; and were it not for those reliefs,his heart would soon faint and die away underdiscouragements, 2Cor. iv. 17, 18. " We faint " notwhilftwelook not at the things which are seen, for they " are temporal,but at the things which are not seen, for they are " eternal," q. d. If we keep not our eye intently fixed upon the invisible and eternal things in the coming world; we shall feel ourselves fainting and dying away under the many troubles and afflictions of this world. " I had fainted (faith holy David) " if I had not believed." How then suppose ye shall the hypocrite liveatsuch a time, who hath no faith to support him? No relief but what comes in through the senses ?
3. Thirdly, Inthatdayallmere notions and speculations about
188 The Advantages of Sincerity. religion vanish; and nothing relieves andfatisfies the suffering foul but what it really believes, and what it hath satisfying proofandexperience of in himself. There are a great many pretty and pleasing notions which our minds are entertained with; some delight in times of peace,which can do us nofervice at all in the day of trouble ! and for our speculative,unpracticableknowledge of the greatest truths in religion,as little
is to be expected from them : Except we have better evidence and security about them,we shall be loth to venture all upon the crédit of them .
That is averyconfiderable passage to this purpose in Heb. *. 34. "Yetookjoyfully the spoiling of your goods, (knowing " in yourselves) that ye have inheavenabetter and more en during substance." This knowing in yourselves is by inward and sensible experience,taste and feeling,which is abundantly satisfying to the soul; and standsopposedtoallthat traditional knowledge we receive from others; which, as it leaves the mind fluctuating, so the heart alsodeadand comfortless.
4. Fourthly, In that day the root and foundation ofa man's faith and hope is tried, and then they that have built upon the sand must needs fail; for every thing is as its foundation; principles are to us what a root is to a tree, or a foundation to a house ; a flaw or grand defect there most assuredly ruins all. This we find to be the veryscopeofthose two famousparables, Luke xiv. 25. and Matth xiii. 21. Lesser troubles shake but the branches, but these try the very root: if nothing be found there but self-ends; the force of education, and the influence of examples, furelywhen the winds rise high, and beat upon it, they will quickly lay the loftiest professor even with the ground.
And thus you see what acrisfis an hour of temptation, the suffering hour is, and what discoveries of hypocrisy it must needs make; for now the hypocrite, like Orpha, will forsake religion ; but sincerity will make the soul cleave to it, as Ruth did to Naomi.
SECT. IV. HAT advantages sincerity gives the soul for its e-
andperfeverance in suffering times, I thall briefly account for in the following particulars.
1. First, Sincere godliness dethrones that idol, the love of this world, in all true Christians ; and this is it that makes men thrinkand flinch from Christ inadayoffuffering. Ido pot deny but even believers themselves love the world too
The Advantages of Sincerity. much ; but they love it not as their chief good: it is not their portionorhappiness; ifanyman so lovetheworld," the love "of the Father is not in him," 1 John ii. 15. How much so ever a sincere Christian loves the world, yet still it is in fubordination to the love of God, John xxi. 15. Sincerity can consist with no other love of the world; it will not suffer such a cursed plant togrowunder its shadow.
Now,what is it, but this inordinate, supreme love of the creature, thatmakesmen forsake Christ intimeoftemptation? This was the ruin of that young man,Matth.xix. 22. "He "went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions." This was the overthrow of Demas, 2 Tim. iv. 10. " He hath for- " sakenme (faith the apostle)having lovedthispresentworld." The love of this world, like sap in greenwood, will not suffer youtoburn for Christ; get but the heart mortified to thecreaturebyadiscovery of better things in heaven, and it will esta blish and fix your spirits, that it shall not be in the power of creatures to shake you off from Christ your foundation.
2. Secondly, Sincerity knits the soul to Christ, and union with him fecuresus in the greatest trials ; Munimurquatenus tinimur. Thehypocritehaving no union with Christ, can have no communion with him, nor communications of grace from him; and so that little stock of his own being quickly spent (Imeannatural courage and resolution)and no incomes from Christ, he must needs give up ina short time. But it is with a believer in a day of trouble, as it is with a garrifonbesieged by land, but free and open to the sea, whence fresh supplies aredailyfent into relieve it: See 2 Cor. i 5. "As the suffer- " ings of Christ abound in us, soourconfolation also abound- " ethby Christ;" fresh aids and daily supplies proportionable to our expences and decays of strength: So Col. i. 11. " Strengthned with all might in the inner-man, according to " his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with " joyfulness." And this is the believers great advantage by his uuionwith Christ in a day of trial.
3. Thirdly, As fincerityunites the soul with Christ, so it sets the heart upon heaven, and things eternal; Col. iii. 1. c. Surely nothing is more conducive to our stability than this, in thehouroftemptation.
This is the most effectual preservative from temptations upontherighthand,and upon the left. Moses could cast a kingdom at his heels; despise the riches, pleasures, and honours of Egypt, whilst his eye was fixeduponhim that is invisible, and had respect to the recompence of reward, Heb. xi. 24, 25,
190 The Advantages of Sincerity. 26. And it was a brave reply of the forty martyrs to Valence the emperor, temptingthemwiththepreferments andhonours of the world, Whyofferye these trifles to us,wheryou know •howthewholeworldiscontemnedbyus?" Andfortemptationsonthe left hand,howhttlecantheymovethat foul,who realizes the glory of the approaching world,and fees the afflictions and sufferings of this world preparing him for, and hastening him to the enjoyment of it: temptations meet with but cold entertainment from such fouls .
4. Fourthly, Sincerity drives but one design, and that is to please and enjoy God: and what can more establish and fix the soul in thehouroftemptationthan this ? The reason why the hypocrite is unstable inallhisways, is given usbytheapoftle James, i. 8. He is a double-minded man, διψυχος ανηρ, am an of two souls in one body; as a profane wretch once boasted, that he had one soul for God, and another for any thing. But all the designs of a gracious heart a reunited in one; and so the entire stream of his affections runs strong, It is base by-ends and self-interests, that, like a great many ditches cut out of the bank ofa river, draw away the stream out of its proper channel, and make its waters fail. But if the heart be united for God, as the expression is,Psal. Ixxxvi. 11. then, wemaysay offueh aChriftian, as was said of a young Roman, Quicquid vult, valde vult ; What he doth, is done with all his might. And this was the ground of that saying, Liberetme Deusab homine unius tantum negotii: Amanofone onlydefigu, puts to all his strength to carry it; nothing can stand before him .
5. Fifthly, Sincerity brings am an's will into subjection to the will of God; and this being done, the greatest danger and difficulty is over with such am an. This is that holyoilwhich makes the wheels of the soul run nimbly, even in difficult paths of obedience; Non tardat uncta rota. Let but a man be once brought to that, " The will of the Lord be done," as it is Acts xxi. 13. to seethehighest reason ofchearful obedience in the holy, just, and goodwill of God, and then all the difficulty is over ; he canfufferquietlywhatmeninflict unjustly.
6. Sixthly, Sincerity takes its measures of present things by the rules of faith and eternity; it goesnotbythefame reckoning and account that others do, who judge of things by sense, and the respects they have to the present world, 2 Cor. iv. 18. "We look not at the things that are seen, but at the things "that are not seen;" and this is there given as the reason of his not fainting under prefentdifficulties: So,Rom. vii. rå
The Design of God in the Trial of his People. 191 " I reckon that the sufferings ofthepresenttimes are not wor- " thy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed " in us." He will not allow himself to undervalue eternal glory, by once mentioning present sufferings, in away of be moaning himselfforthem: A steady eye upon the other world makes us more than conquerors over the troubles of this world.
7. Seventhly, To conclude ; fincerityalone hath alltheheavenlyaids and assistances to stability, and perseverance in fufferingtimes: upright ones (and such only)have Christ's intercessioninheaven for them,Rom. viii. 34. The Spirit's consolation in all their troubles, 1Pet. iv. 14. The Spirit of glory and of Godrestethonthem: the beneficial ministryofangels, who are sent forth upon their account, Heb. i. 14. A stock of prayers, going for them all the world over, Eph. vi.
18. Multitudes of precious promises in the Scriptures ; for every line,word,and syllable of which the faithfulness of God
engaged : so that it is impossiblesuchgoldcan perish in the fire.
And thus oftheseveralwaysbywhichgrace is here tried.
CHAP. IX.
Opening the designs and ends of God, in bringing of the professors of religion intofuch various trials of their graces in this world. TH
SECT . I. HESE are some of the ways and methods in which
God brings his gold to the touchstone, and to the fire, eveninthisworld,before the awful and solemn trial they must come to in the final judgment : and if we desire to be satisfied whatthedesignand end of God in making such probations of his people is, Wemustconclude, in the general, he certainly designs his own glory, and his peoples advantage and profit in them. If hefuffer them to be tried by reproaches, happy are they, the Spirit of God and glory resteth on them ; there is their profit; and though his name be evil spoken of, yet in the meeknefs of their spirits he is glorified, as it is, 1 Pet. iv. 14. " If the scourge " slay suddenly, he laugheth at the trial of the innocent," Job ix. 23. Not at their afflictions, but at the effects and blessed issues and results of them : Not that it gives them pain, but that it gives them glory. Upon this account the apostle bids
192 The Design of God in the Trial of his People. us count it all joy when we fall into diverse temptations or trials: and still the more trials themorejoy; for thereby God will produce such effects as are more precious than gold that perisheth, 1Pet. i.7. O who canvaluethe comfort that is tasted by the foul,uponthetrialanddiscovery of its sincerity, when after some foretemptationwherein God hath helped us tomaintainourintegrity, or after some close pinching affliction, wherein we have discovered in ourselves a sweet resignation to, andcontentmentinthe will of God, an heartcleaving to the Lord, purged andmademore fpiritualunderthe rod! we can turn to the Lord, and appeal to him, as the prophet did, Jer. xii. 3. " But thou, O Lord, knowest me; thou hast seen me, " andtriedmine heart towards thee."
I say, who can duly value such an advantage: who would exchange such a comfort for all the gold and silver in the world? Howmanytrials soever God brings his people under, tobesureneither his own glory, nor their interest, shall suffer anydamageby them. B
SECT. V. thoughts close to UTmore particularly, let us bring our thematterbefore us,and we shall findmanygreat advantages and benefits rising outofthese trials of sincerity : For,
1. First,Herebyhypocrify is unmasked and discovered ; the vizard is plucked off from the false professor, and his true natural face and complexion shewn to the world ; and in this there is a great deal of good.
Object. Good, you will say, Where lies it ? All the world Jeesthe mischiefandfad effects of it ; many are stumbled, many are hardened by it : "Woeto the world because of of fences!" Matth. xvi. 7.
Sol. True, some are prejudiced and hardened by it, so as never to have good thoughts of the ways and people of God more: That isfadindeed; however,therein God accomplishes his word, and executeth his decree; and though these perish, yet, First, Others are warned, awakened, and set a searching their own hearts more narrowly than ever, and this is good, 1 Cor. x. 11 , 12. Now these were our examples ; "wherefore " let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed left he fall."
Secondly, Hereby sin is ashamed; and it is good when fin that hath exposed men to so much shame, shall be itself expofedtoshame: This is the just reward of fin, Jer. xiii. 25,26.
The Design of God in the Trial of his People. 193 This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me,faith the " Lord ; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in false- "hood,therefore will I difcoverthy skirts uponthyface, that " thy shame may appear."
The turning up the skirt is a modest expression of exposing a person to the greatest shame in thedayoftrial : God,bydifcoveringhypocrify, shames the hypocrite; and, surely, many such discoveries are made of men at this day : We may fee fin,that lurkedclose in the heart before, now laidopenbefore all Israel, and before the fun.
Thirdly, Hereby the poor self-cozening hypocrite hath the greatest opportunity and advantage that ever was beforehimin all his life, to recover himself out of the snare of the devil. Nowallhispretences are gone ; now that which like a shield was advanced against the arrows ofreproofand conviction is gone; nowapoor creature stands naked, and stripped out of all hispleas, as a fair andopenmark to the world,and his own conscience; and happy will it be for him, if now the Lord make conviction to enter point blank into his soul. All these are bleffedeffects of the difcoveryofhypocrify.
Secondly, By these trials integrity is cleared up, and the doubts and fears of many upright and holy ones allayed and quieted, resolved and satisfied. Owhatwouldmany a poor Christian give for satisfaction in thatgreatpointoffincerity! Howmanytears have been shed to Godinfecret upon that account ? How many hours have been spent in examination of his own heart about it, and still jealoufies and fears hang upon his heart ? He doubts what he may prove at last. Well, faith God, let his sincerity then come to the test, kindle the fire, and cast in my gold. Trials are the highway to assurance ; let my child see that he loves me more than these, that his heart is upright with me. I will try himbyprofperityandby adversity, byperfecutions and temptations,and he shall see his heart is better than he suspects it to be. This shall be the day of resolution to his fears and doubts.
The apostle, speaking ofherefies, 1 Cor. xi. 7, 9. puts a neceflity upon them: There must be herefies, faith he, that they which are approved may be made manifest. The same necessity there is (and for the fame end) of all other trials of grace, that the lovely,beautiful, sweet face offinceritymaybe openedfometimes to the world, to enamour them, and to the soul inwhoni it is, to satisfy it that it doth not personate a Christian, but вь VOL. VII.
194 The Design of God in the Trial of his People. lives the very life of a Christian, and hath the very spirit and principles of a Christian in him.
3. Thirdly, By these trials, pride and self-confidence is destroyed and mortified in the saints, as much as by any thing in the world. We never fee what poor weak creatures we are, until we come to the trial. It is said, Deut. viii. 2. "God " led Israel through the defart, to prove them, and to humble " them." When we are proved,then we are humbled. Those that over-reckon their graces before the trial, fee they must come to another account, and take new measuresofthemselves after they have been upon trial.
Ah! little did I think,faithone, that I had so much love for the world, and fo little for God, until afflictions tried it. I could not have believed that ever the creature had got so deep into my heart, until providence either threatened or made a separation, and then I found it. I thought I had been rich in faith, until such a danger befel me, or such a want began to pinch hard; and then I saw how unable I was to trust God for protection, or provision. O it is a good thing that our hearts be kept humble and lowly, how rich foeverthey be in grace!
4. Fourthly, By trials grace is kept in exercise,andthegra cious foul preserved from security and spiritual slothfulness. Trials are to grace what the estuationsandcontinual agitations of the waters are to the sea, or what the racking ofwines from the lees is to it: Were it not for our frequent trials and exercises, we should quickly fettle upon the lees, and our duties would be (as God complains of Ephraim) likefoure or dead drink,Hofea iv. 18. flat and spiritless. "Moabhathbeen at ease " from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not " been emptied from vessel to vessel ; neither hath he gone " into captivity ; therefore his taste remained in him,and his " scent is not changed," Jer. xlviii. 11 .
Much after that rate it would be with our hearts, did not the Lord frequently try and exercise them. Let the best man bewithoutfome trial or other but a few months, and you may findthewant of it in his prayers and conferences quickly. O whatatang offormalitywillbe found in them! And is it for thehonour of God, or profit of his people, that it should be .fo ? No, no, the Lord knows it is not; but how shall their spirits be reduced to their former zealous heavenly temper again ? Why, faith the Lord, they must into the furnace again: " I will melt them andtrythem; for how shall Ido for
The Design of God in the Trial of his People. 195 the daughter of my people," Jer. ix. 7. I love them too well to lose them for want of a rod. Alas! if I should suffer things to go on at this rate, what will become of them in a little time? What delight can I take in their duties, when the faith, fervour, humility, and holy seriousness of their spirits is wanting in them ? I will therefore " refine them as silver is " refined, and try them as gold is tried, and they shall call uponmyname, and I will hear them, and I will say, It is my " people, and theyshallsay, TheLordismyGod," Zech. xiii. 9. and thus the Lord chides himself friend again with his people.
: Thus he recovers them to their true temper, and thus his visitations do preserve their spirits; and when the Lord fees these sweet effects of his trials upon them, it greatly pleaseth him. Onow, faith God, I like it ; this providence hath done them good; this rod was well bestowed ; the letting loose of this temptation, or that corruption upon them, hath made them findtheirknees again ; now I hear the voice of my child again.
Beloved, this is a blessed fruit and effect of our frequent trials ; and how ungrateful foeverthey are to flesh and blood, that affects ease, and is loth to be disturbed, yet it is necessary to the prefervationofour spirits.
5. Fifthly, By the trial of our graces Satan is defeated, and his accusation of the saints found to be mere slanders. It is a verycommonthing with the devil and wickedmen, to accuse the people of God of hypocrisy, and to tell the world they are not the men and women they are taken to be ; and that if their infidewere but turnedoutbysome thorough trial, or deep
it would appear that religiondidnotindeed live in their souls, as they pretend, but that they only act a part, andperfonateheavenly and mortifiedpersonsuponthe public stage of profession...
Thus the accuser of the brethren suggests the hypocrisy of Job, chap. ii. 5. " Put forth thine hand now, and touch his " bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face ;" q. d. Well might Job serve thee whilst thou hast been so bountiful a master to him; he hath been well rewarded for all the service he hath done thee ; but if thou stop the current of his prosperity, thou shalt see how quickly he will stop the course of his duty : A few lashes from thy hand will make him curse thee to thy face. ButOwhatshame and disappointment was Bb2
196 The Design of God in the Trial of his People. it to that envious spirit ? What a vindication of Job's integrity, when under the greatest trials of his faith and patience,he still held fast his integrity, and shews himself as great a pattern of patience under the cross, as he had been of piety in the days of his greatest prosperity ! Satangets nothingbybringing forth thefaintsuponthe stage, to be made a spectacle to angels and men, as it is, 1 Cor. iv. 9.
6. Sixthly, and lastly, The frequent trials of grace exhibit a full and living testimony against the atheism of the world. Theseprovebeyond all words or arguments that religion is no fancy, but the greatest reality in the world: Men would make religion but a fancy, and the zeal of its professors, but the intemperate heat of some crazy brains, over-heated with a fond potion.
They that never felt the real influences of religion upon their own souls, will not believe that others do feel them.
Serious piety is become the ludicrous subject with which the wantonwits of this atheistical world sport themselves. But behold the wisdom and goodness of God exhibiting to the worldtheundeniable testimonies of the truth of religion, as often as the sincere professors thereof are brought to the test by afflictions from the hand of God, orperfecution from the hands of men : Lo! here is the faith and patience of the faints: here is their courage, meekness, and self-denial, shining as gold in the fire ; they have the real proofs of it before their eyes: instead of casting them into hell, and convincing them by eternal fire, he is pleased to cast his own people into the fire of affliction, that they who scoffatthem maybe convinced at an easier and cheaper rate. It is no newthing to fee the enemies of religion brought over to embrace it, by the constancy and faithfulness of the saints in their trials and sufferings for it. God grant that the atheism of this presentgenerationdonot occasion a more fiery trial to the people of God in it,than they have yet suffered !
Tried Grace is true Grace. #97 CHAP. X.
Shewing that thatgraceonly is to bereckonedfincere and real, which can endure those trials which God appoints, or permits, for the discovery of it.
SECT. I. BEFORE I offer you the proofs and evidences of this truth, it will be neceflaryto prevent some mistakes that maybeoccafionedbymisunderstanding of it.
Caution 1. And, in the first place,we are not to thinkaffurance of our fincerityimpossible to be had in this life, because as long as we live here, we are in a state of trial ; and how many trials foeverhave been made upon us already, yet still therearemore to come; and we know not what we thall prove in future trials, though God hath kept us upright in former trials : No, no, this is none of my meaning; nor doth such a conclusion necessarily follow this assertion: For a Christian that hath rightly closed with Christ at first, and been faithful in the duties of active and passive obedience hitherto, may be assured, upon good grounds, of a victory before he come to the fire of his remaining trials. So was the apostle, Rom. viii. 35, &c. " Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? " Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or " nakedness, or peril, or sword ? Nay,in all these we are more " than conquerors, thro' him that hath loved us." Here is an affuredtriumphbeforethe combat. So Job xxiii. ro. " But he " knoweththewaythat I takes whenhehath tried me, I shall " come forth as gold." He appeals to God for the fincerityof his heart fo far as he had hitherto gone inthewayofreligion, and thence concludes, that whatever trials God should bring himtofortime to come,he shouldcomeforth as gold, i. e.he
not lose one grain of the fire. And this confidence of a gracious foul is built notonlyupon experience gained in former trials, but upon faith in the power, promises, and faithfulness of God, which are engaged for him in the covenant of grace, tokeephiminthe greatest dangers thatbefalhim in this world.
He believes the power of God is able tomakehim stand, thoughhehath no powernormight in himself to overcome the least temptation, 1 Pet. i. 5. " You are kept, φρωραμμηνος (kept " as a garrison)by the power of God through faith unto sal-
198 Tried Grace is true Grace. " vation." When Christ hath once takenpossessionofthefoul by his spirit,he fortifies it by his power, as a garrison : thatufingthe means, it be surprized or betrayed no more into the enemy'shand,so as finally to be loft. He builds this confidence also upon the promises of God, which are his security in future dangers: And how are all the pages of the Biblebespangledwith such promises, as the firmament is with bright and glorious stars? Such are these of the first magnitude, 1 Cor. i. 8, 9. "Christ shall confirm you to " the end, thatye maybe blameless in the day of our Lord " Jesus Christ. God is faithful,by whom ye are called unto " the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." And no lesssatisfyingand sweet is that, Jer. xxxii. 40. "And I will "makeaneverlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn " away from them to do them good; but Iwillputmy fear in " their hearts, that they shall not depart from me." And of the same nature is that also, Johnx. 27, 28. " My sheep hear " my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give " unto them eternal life ; and they shall never perish, neither " shall anymanpluckthem out of my hand."
If there be any hypocrite in sheeps-cloathing, he hath no part or lot in this promise; but it secures the whole flock of Christ, great and small, against all danger.
He also builds his assurance upon the faithfulness of God, which stands engaged to make good every line, word, and syllable of his promises to his people; so we find, in 1 Cor. x. 13. " There hath no temptation taken you but such as iscom- " mon to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to " be tempted above thatye are able; but will witheverytemp- " tation make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear " it." And, 2 Thef. iii. 3. " But the Lord is faithful, who " shall establish you, and keep you from evil." Add to this, the constant prevalent intercession of Christ in heaven for his people, in all their trials, andthenyou will fee a sincere Christian need not to deny himselfthejoy and comfort of his assurance, upon the account and supposition of his future trials.
SECT. II. OR do we here suppose, in this assertion, Caution 2.N that inherent grace in the saints hath a fufficiency of ability in itselftoendure the greatest and severest trials that canbefal it in this world. It is certain that it shall
Tried Grace is true Graces 199 be carried safely through all, but not in its own strength and ability.
That is a true observation of the learned Gerson,Perfectiones fibirelicta,funt ponder a ad ruin am : The most perfect creature left to itself, will fall into ruin. This was exemplified in the angels that fell ; and in Adam, though in a perfect state. Divine preservation is the prop which supports the best creatures from ruin. Grace itself is but a creature, and therefore a dependent being: It is but a stream, depending upon the supply of the fountain: If the fountain let not forth itself,what becomes of the stream ? That is a true and judicious observation of the learned Dr. Ames, Perfeverantiafidelium, vel immutabilis eorum conditio fecundum integram ejus rationem, nonpervenit a principio intrinfecosolo, nec afolo extrinfeco ; fedpartim ab intrinfeco, ex natura vitæfpiritualis a Christofluentis, et partim ab extrinfeco, ex custodia, protectione et directione Dei ; Amefii Coronis,Art. 5. The perseveranceofbelievers, or theimmutabilityoftheir condition, if we view the wholegroundand reason of it, is not wholly from within, or wholly from without itself; but partly from the nature of the spiritual life which flows from Christ into them,and partly from the keeping,protection, and direction of God: That protection is always afforded to this life of grace; and this life of grace always needs that protection. The best of men are but men at best, as one speaks: It was not Peter's grace and resolution that kept him, but Christ's careofhim and interceffionforhim, Luke xxii. 32.
" Be strong in the Lord, (faith the apostle) and in the power " of his might," Ephef. vi. 10. " Without me (faith Christ) "ye can do nothing," John xv. 5. Neither of these is that which I have before me to prove ; but this is that which I aim at, that suchseeminggrace as was never yet brought to the trial, nor will be able to bear the trial, when God shall bring it thereto, must not pass for current (as too frequently it doth) among us: Such grace will neither comfort us now, nor fave us hereafter : For, SECT. III.
1.F
IRST, great numbers of persons in the professing world are deceived and destroyed by trusting to seeming anduntriedgrace: this was the miferableconditionofthose Laodicean professors in the text; they reckoned themselves rich, but were really poor : All is not gold that glifters ; their gold(as they accounted it)was never tried in the fire. If am an'swhole estate lay in some precious stone, suppose a rich
200 Tried Grace is true Grace. diamond, how i she concerned to have it thoroughly tried, to see whether it will bear a smart stroke with a hammer, or fly like a Bristol diamond under it ? All that you are worth lies in the truth and sincerity of your grace; and till that be tried you know not whether you be worth anything or no thing.
Reader, There are two fad fights in the world, which cannot but deeply affect everyuprightheart: one is toseefomany choufands of rational andingeniousmeninthe Romish church, by an implicit faith in their guides,venturing their souls upon their bare word; never fearchingthe scriptures with their own eyes, but wholly trusting to the infallibility of a pope or a council; when, in the mean time, they would fear to take their word for a sum of money, without some further security. It is amazing to behold the soul-destroying, easy credulity of thosemen; but this isa stroke of madness and spiritual infatuation,judicially inflicted upon them, that the judgment which iswrittenmight be fulfilled in them,"God shall send them " strong delusions, that they should believe a lie," 2 Thef. ii.
IV.
And yet more amazing is that stroke of God upon multitudesofvainand formal professors even in the reformed Prote-
churches, where noman is restrained from searching the scriptures; nay, where men are so frequently and earnestly pressed, from sabbath to sabbath, to examine themselves, and prove their own work, that yet so many are content to leave all at hazard, and without any more ado, or farther search in the matter, credit the report of their own deceitful hearts, and take all for granted, without due trial or examination of the matter.
: Surely, no one thing fends down more foulsdailytohell out of the profefling world, than this doth. The five foolish virgins (i. e. the unprincipled professors in thereformedchurches) perished this way; they took it for granted all was well, because they had lamps of profession as well as others ; and saw not the cheat till the cry was heardatmidnight, and their unfurnished lamps went out, Matth. xxv.
2. Secondly, The promises of salvation are made over to tried grace, and such only as will endure the trial: So James i. 12. "Bleffedis the man that endureth temptation; for when he is "tried he shall receive the crown of life which God hath pro- "mised to them that love him :" We must be first tried, and then crowned. "If am an strive for masteries, yet i she not : " crowned, except he strive lawfully," 2 Tim. ii. 5. He manifestly alludes to the Romangames, towhichtherewerejudg
Tried Grace is true Grace. 201 esappointed to see that no foul play were offered contrary to the law for wresthng ; and where it was found, the crown was denied them. Not to him that sets forth in the morning with resolution and gallantry, but to him that holds out till the evening of his life, is the promise made ; Matth.x. 22. "He that " endureth to the end shall be saved." So Rom. ii. 7. " To " them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek forglo- " ry, andhonour, and immortality, eternal life." And once more, Heb. iii. 14. " We are made partakers of Christ, if we " hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end." So that if you should endure some few flighter troubles, and faint at last, give out when a closer trial befals you, all your labours and sufferings are in vain. Sincerity and final perseverance are the conditions of all special promises.
3. Thirdly, Every man's graces and duties must be tried and weighed by God in the great day; and if they cannot endure these lesser trials to which God exposes them now, how will they endure that severe and exact trial to which he will bring them then ? No man can search his own heart with that exactness in this world, as God will search it in the world to come.
in this case to you as the Lord spake to Jeremiah, chap. xii. 5. " If thou hast run withthefootmen, and they have " wearied thee,then how canst thou contendwithhorfes ? and " if in the land of peace,wherein thou trustedst, they have " wearied thee,then how wiltthoudo in the swelling of Jor- " dan?" This was spoken to encourage the prophet to constancy in his work; and as if the Lord had said, O Jeremy, do the strivings of the men of Anathoth,thine own town, difhearten thee ? Pluck up thy spirits, and faint not ; there are harder trials than these that thou must undergo at Jerusalem; these are no more, to what is coming, than the running with footmen is to contending with horses, or the passing a small rivulet to the swellings of Jordan.
To allude to this ; if our graces and duties cannot bear theselightertrials ; ifa little lift of prosperity, or lighter stroke of adversity discover so much falseness, rottenness, pride and selfishness in the heart ; if we cannot resist the motions ofcorruptions, but yield ourselves to obey sfininthe lusts of it ; if we can neither keep our hearts with God in duties, nor mourn for ourwanderings from him , ifa few scoffs fromwickedtongues, or trials of persecution from the hands of men will cause us to faintintheway, and turn back from following the Lord,what
we do when "He comes,whose fan is in his hand, and VOL. VII. C
1202 Tried Grace is true Grace. *" who will thoroughly purge his floor ;" Matth. iii. 12.who will try every man's work as by fire, 1 Cor. iii. 13. search the secrets of all hearts,Rom. ii. 16. weigh every man to his ounces anddrachms ? furelywe can take little comfort in that which is so unable to bear the severe trials of that day, that it cannot * stand before the flighter trials of this day. 4. Fourthly, True grace is willing to be tried, and nothing ismoredefirable to an upright soul,than to know his own condition: if therefore we shun the trial, and are loth to search ourselves, or besearchedbythe Lord,our condition is suspicious, andwecantake little comfort in it. It was David's carneft desire, Psalm exxxix. 23. that God would thoroughly "search his heart and reins, and fee if there were any way of wickedness in him. False grace is thy of God's eye, it cares ⚫not to be examined; but this is the delightoffincere ones: " Every one that doth evilhateththelight,left his deeds should 1" be reproved ; but he that doth truth, cometh to the light, " that his deeds maybe made manifest,that they are wronght -" in God," John iii. 20, 21 .
The reason is plain why hypocrisy cannot endure to come to the touchstone and test; for hypocrites, having a secret consciousness of their own guilt and unfoundness, know that, by this means,theirvainconfidencewould quickly be confut. ed, and all their reputation for religion blasted. But, oh! if men dare not stand before the word, as it is now opened and appliedbyminifters,howwilltheystandwhen it shall be opened and applied, in another manner, by Jesus Christ ? Oprofeffor, if thy condition be good, thy heart right, thou wilt desire to know the very worst of thyself; and when thou haftmade the deepest search thou canst, thou wilt still fear thou haft not been severe enough,and impartial enough to thyself; nothingwillgive thee more content than when thou feelest the word dividing thy foul and spirit,thy joints and marrow; nothingsomuch comforts thee under, or after an affliction, as the discovery it hath made of my heart; thou wiltseem to feel with what affection those words came from the prophet's lips, Jer. xii. 2. " But thou, O Lord,knowest me, thou haftseen " me, and tried my heart towards thee." O what a refreshingsweetnesswill stream through thy heart, and all the powers of thy soul, when thou canstmake the like appeal to God with like sincerity! And certainly, without such a disposition of spirit towards the trial of our graces,we can have little evidence of the truth of them.
ParticularInferencesfrom the TrialofGrace. 203
CHAP. XI.
Containing divers practical instructive inferences from this doctrine ; with a serious exhortation to self-trial and thorough examination.
SECT. I. RE there such variety of trials appointed to Infer. 1.A examine the fincerityof mens graces ; how great a vanity then is hypocrisy, and to how little purpose do men endeavour to conceal and hide it ? We say, Murder will out; and we may as confidently affirm, Hypocrisy will out. WhenRebeccahad laidtheplot todisguiseherfon Jacob, and bypersonating his brother, to get the blessing, Jacob thus objects against it, " My father, peradventure, will feel me, " and I shall feemto him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a "curse upon me, and not a blessing," Gen. xxvii. 12. as if heshouldsay,but what if my father detect the cheat,how then
I look him in the face? How shall I escape a curse ? After the fame manner every upright foul scares itself from the wayofhypocrify. If I dissemble, and pretend to be what I am not, my Father will find me out. Ah 1 there is no darkness nor shadow of death that can conceal the hypocrite, but outitwillcome at last,let him use all the arthecan to hide it. OftentimesGoddiscovers him by the trials he appoints in this world; and men in that day shall" return anddifcern betwixt "the righteous and the wicked, between kim that ferveth "God, and him that serveth him not," Mal. iii. 18. But if hemakeanhard shift to get by a private way to hell, carrying this comfort with him to the last step, That nobody knows or thinks he is gone thither; yet there will be a day when God will strip him naked before the great assembly of angels and men, and all shall point at him, and say, Lo! this is the man that made not Godhishope. This is he that wore agarmentofprofession to deceive, but God hath now stript him out of it, and allmen seewhathe is: For, " There is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed, and hid, thatthall not be known," Matth.x. 26. And the apostle assures us, 1 Tim. v. 24, 25. "That they that are "otherwise, cannot be hid." If mensworks be not good, it is impoffiblethey shouldbehidlong: A gilded piece of bra is
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204 Particular Inferences from the TrialofGrace. may pass from hand to hand a little while, but the touchstone will discover the base metal : If that do not, the fire will. O sinners ! away with your hypocrisy, be honest, sincere, plainandhearty in religion : If not, contufionofface shall be yourrecompence from the Lord ; that is what you shall get by it.
Infer. 2. Secondly, Are there such trialsappointedand permitted by the Lord for the discovery of his people's sincerity in this world ? Then let none of God'speopleexpectaquietstation in this world : Certainly you shall meet with noresthere, you must out of one fire into another; and it isa merciful condescension of the Lord topoorcreatures, thus toconcernhimself for their safety and benefit: "What is in an, that thou shouldst " magnify him ? and that thou shouldst set thine heart up- " on him? that thou shouldst visit him every morning, and " try him every moment ?" Job vii. 17, 18. O it is a great deal ofhonour put upon a poor worm, when Godwillevery moment try him and visit him ; it argues the great esteem the gold-smith hath of his gold, when he will fit by the furnace himself, and order the fire with his own hand; when he pries so often, and so curiously into the fining-pot, to see that none of his precious metal, upon which he sets his heart, be loft.
Think it not then adebasing to you to be so often exposed to trials. IfGoddid not value you highly, he would not try you so frequently ; What would become of you, ifyourconditionhere should be more settled and quiet than now it is? I believe you finddross enough in your hearts after all the fires into which God hath cast you: Surely there is filth enough in the best of God's people to take all this, it maybe a great deal moretroublethantheyhaveyet met with. We fancy it a brave life to live at ease; and if we meet with longer refpites and intervals of trial than usual, we are apt to say, We shall never be moved, as David did, Psal, xxx. 6. or we shall die in ourneft, as it is Job xxix. 18. Our hard anddifficultdays are over; but woe to us if God should give us the desire of our hearts in this. See whatthetemper of those mens spirits is, that meet with no changes, Psal. lv. 19. "Because they have " no changes, therefore they fear not God." O it is better to be preserved sweet inbrine, than to rot in honey !
Infer. 3. Thirdly, Let none boast ina carnal confidence of their own strength and stability. You are yet in a state of trial: Hitherto God hath kept you upright in all your trials ; bless God, but boast not ; you are but feathers in the wind of
Particular Inferences from the Trial of Grace. 205 temptation, if Godleaveyou to yourselves. PetertoldChrist, (and doubtless he spoke no more than he honestly meant) " Though all men forsake thee, yet will not I:" And you know what he did when the hour of his trial came, Matth. xxvi. 35. Angels left to themselves have fallen: It is better tobeanhumble worm, than a proud angel. Ah! how many Pendletons will this professing age shew, if once Godbringus to the fiery trial ? " Let him that thinks he " stands, take heed lest he fall." You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. None stand upon firmer ground than those that fee nothing in themselves to stand upon; hethatleans uponhisownarm, usuallybenumbs it, and makes it useless .
Infer. 4. Fourthly, Doth God kindle somanyfires in Sion, and set his furnaces in Jerusalem, to discover and feparatethe dross from the gold? How contrary are those men to God, that allow, yea, and prize the dross ofhypocrify, which God hates, and stick not to make the holy God a patronifer, and countenancer of it in the hearts and livesofmen ?
It is amazing to read what popish pens have impudently writtenaboutthis matter : * Sylvester puts the question, Whether it be a finto make a false shew of sanctity ? And answers it thus: I fit be for the honour of God, and profit of others, it is no fin. Nay, they have a reverence for hypocrisy, as an holy art. Vincent i us spends a whole chapter in commendation of the hypocrisy of St. Dominic, and entitles it, Defancta ejushypocrifi; i. e. of the holy hypocrisy of that saint ; reckoning it among his commendations, that he had the artofdifsembling. And yet,one peg higher, a religious person (faith † another) that feigns himself to have more holiness than he hath, that others maybe edified, fins not, butrathermerits.
Blush, O heavens ! that ever such factors for hell should openandvendfuch ware as this in the public market, and invitetheworld to hypocrisy, as that which makes for the glory of God, the edification of men, and a work meritorious in the hypocrite himself: This is the doctrine of devils indeed !
Infer. 5. Fifthly, If it be so, that allgracemust come to the test, and be tried as gold in the fire, eveninthisworld ; how areallmenconcerned to lay a solid foundation at first, and thoroughly deliberate the terms upon which they close with Christ,and engage in the profession of his name ? " Which of "you,(faith Christ)intendingtobuildatower, sittethnotdown
Afum advfimulatio, n. 4. ↑Rosella in v. hypacrisis,n.1.
206 AJeribus Exhortation to Self-examination. "first, and counteth the cost?" Luke xiv. 28. If some mert hadsetdown at first, and pondered the conditions and terms of Christ, they had not fat down now discouraged, and tired in the way. The apostle Paulwent to work at another rate; he accounted allbutdung and dross for Christ, Phil. iii. 8. and was of the same mind when the actual trial came; for then he tells us, " He counted not his life dear unto him," Acts xx. 24. And the apostle Peteradmonishes believers " not to think "it strangeconcerningthe fiery trial which was to try them,"
1 Pet. iv. 12. q.d. Let none of these things be surprisals to you; you are told before-hand whatyoumust trust to ; every Christian must bea martyr, at least inthedispositionand resolution of his heart. Othat menwouldbalance the advantages and disfadvantages of religion, and thoroughly ponder the matter in their deepest thoughts ! To the test you must come; the rain will fall, and the storm beat upon your buildings; look carefully therefore to the foundations.
Infer. 6. Sixthly, and lastly, Learn from this pointtheunavoidableness of scandals and offences in the way of religion ; for if there be a necessity of trial, there is also a necessity of scandal. " Itmustneeds be that offences come," Luke xvii.
1. Why, must it needs be ? The reason is evident ; all must come to the trial, and all are not able to bear it. Our Lord tells us, Matth. xxiv. 8, 9, 10. of a day of great straits and perplexitycoming: " And then (faith he) shall many be of- " fended." The dayoftrial is the day of scandal : By these offences some are put a searching themselves, and some fall a cenfuring all others; but the holy God brings about his end both ways in them that are saved, andinthemthat perish. W
SECT. II. ELL then, ifitbeso that all must into the furnace, leteverymantry his own work ; examine yourselves, professors, search your hearts, commune with your reins, nothingmoreconcerns you in all the world than this doth. O that you wouldbemore in your closets, and oftner upon your knees ! O that youwouldlook into the Bible, then into your hearts, and then to God, saying, with David, " Search me, " OGod, and know my heart; prove me, and try my reins, " and see if there be anyway of iniquity in me !" Never did religion thrive in the world sincemens heads have been so overheated with notions and controverfies, and their hearts to
Aferious Exhortation to Self-examination. 207 fenfiblycooledintheircloset-work. I have elsewhere ‡ more largely pressed this duty upon the professors of this generation, and thither shall refer the reader for the present, to seethe neceflityand importance of this work.
Here Ishallonlyurge the dutyoffelf-trial bysomepreffing motives, and awakening considerations.
Motive 1. And the first shall be, the exceeding difficulty of this work; difficulty insomecases maybe adiscouragement ; butwhere the matter is of absolute necesslity, as it is here, nothing provokes more to diligence;" Strive (faith our Lord) to " enter in at the strait gate, for many will seek to enter in, " and shall not be able," Luke xiii. 24. A double difficulty ' is found attending this work offelf-trial: Difficulty in bringing the heart to it ; and difficulty in the right and successful management of it. Who finds it not hard to persuade his heart to such work as this ? Nature declines it, flesh and blood