Chapter V
Some cautions to prevent misjudging by false rules : as also this case
resolved, Whether growth in grace may be judged by the ordinary
prevailings of corruption, or the ordinary actings of a man s grace ?
Caution 1. That men are not to estimate their progress in grace
by having overcome such lusts as their natures are not so prone
unto, but that a judgment hereof is to be made from the decay
of the bosom-sin,
Caution 2. We are not to judge by extraordinary assistances
nor extraordinary temptations,
This caution explicated by three things,
This question resolved, Whether we may certainly judge of
the degrees of our mortification to lusts by the ordinary
risings and prevailings of them, or by the ordinary acting and exercise of our graces 1 Answered affirmatively,
. An objection, That the Spirit is a voluntary agent, who may act a less
degree of grace more than a greater, answered
1. That yet the Holy Ghost ordinarily assists according to the
proportion of grace given,
2. That the acting of grace increaseth the^ habits more, and so it
comes all to one : two limitations herein
(1.) That God for some time of a man s life, may leave a
strong Christian to greater corruption than a weak, and act a weak Christian s graces more, God may have four ends in such a dispensation,
(2.) If a weak Christian be more watchful over his lusts
for a time than a stronger Christian, yet his weak
. . 495
ness is discovered by two things,
CHAPTER VI.
Five cautions more added to the former two, to prevent such mis
judging
Caution 3. To take into consideration our several occasions to
draw out corruptions, and means to draw forth graces, 497
Caution 4. To consider the natural temper of a man s own spirit,
. . 497
whether it be quick and active or slow,
XXIV CONTENTS.
Caution 5. To consider what force restraining grace hath in us, which often makes mortification seem greater than it is,
. 497 Caution 6. Not to judge from our present listlessness to sin, which may arise from other causes besides true mortification, and so may make that seem to be much more at some times than in truth it is, . . . . .490 The difference between listlessness to sin and true mortifica
tion, in two things, ... . 500 Caution 7. Not to judge of the measure of mortification simply by the sharpness and edge of our affections against sin, but by our inward strength against it, . . . .501 A discovery how that edge of affection against sin may deceive
us, and how a young Christian may have a quicker stirring against sin when he hath less strength, . .501