Part 21
And thus much of the trial of our sincerity by our carriage tor sin.
566 RELIGIOUS DUTIES ARE HEART-DISCOVERIESf.
CHAP. VII.
c Shewing what proof or trial is made of the soundness, ness of our graces by the duties of religion which we
SECT. I.
T E now come (according to the method proposed) t( of the truth or falseness of grace, by the duties we daily religion. And certainly they also have the use and effii for the discovery, 1 John ii. 4, 5. " He that saith I kno
keepcth not his commandments [is a liar] and the tru " him : But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the 1
perfected: And hereby know we that we are in him." This is a practical lie, of which the apostle speaks here men deceive others for a while, and themselves for evei spoken, but done, when a man's course of life contradict! sion. The life of an hypocrite is but one longer or cor lie saith or professeth he knows God, but takes no care ai him in the duties he commands ; he either neglects the performs them, it is not as God requires : " If they draw
" with their lips, yet their heart is far from him," Is " Thou art near in their mouth, but far from their reins.
There are some that feel the influence and power of th nlon with the Lord in duties, going down into their very there are others Avhose lips and tongues only are touched w
This is an age of light and much profession : Men i keep up a reputation in the sober and professing world, let down, and totally neglect the duties of religion : bi men would be but'just to themselves, their very perf duty would tell them what their hearts are.
SECT. II.
OR there are, among others, these following particul very clearly difference the sound from the unsound proi
1. First, The designs and true levels and aims of me duty will tell them Avhat they are.
An hypocrite aims low ; Hos. vii. 14. " They hav " unto me with their heart when they howled upon their
»ELlGrOITS DrTIES ARE HKART-DISCOVEEIES.
But an upright heart hath very high and pure aims in duty ; " ** desire of their soul is to God.'' Isa. xxvi. 8. " Their soul fo " hiu-d after God," Psal. Ixiii. 8. " One thing have I desired c
" Lord, that I will seek after, that I may dwell in the house ( " Lord all the days of my life, to see the beauty of the Lord, a
" enquire in his temple," Psal. xxvii. 4. These are the true e that play at the sun, and will not stoop to low and earthly oh Alas ! If the enjoyment of God be missed in a duty, it is nt greatest enlargement of gifts will satisfy ; he comes back like i that hath taken a long journey to meet his friend upon impc business, and lost his labour; his friend was not there.
2. Secxmdly, The engagements of men's hearts to God in ( ■will tell them what they are ; the hypocrite takes little heed t heart, Isa. xxix. Y6. They are not afflicted really for the hare deadness, unbehef and wanderings of their hearts in duty, as up ones are : nor do they engage their hearts, and labour to get up with God in duty, as his people do. " I have entreated tl
vour with my whole heart," saith David, Psal. cxix. 58. ' are not pleased in duty until they feel their hearts stand tc God like a bow in its full bent I say, it is not always so with t what would they give that it might be so .'' But, surely, if their in duty be empty of God, they are filled with trouble and sorr
3. Thirdly, The conscience that men make of secret, as w^ public duties, will tell them what their hearts and graces are; ther true or false. A vain professor is curious in the former, either negligent, or, at best, formal in the latter ; for he fin inducements of honour, applause, or ostentation of gifts, extei moving him to them ; nor hath he any experience of the swe( and benefit of such duties internally to allure and engage hi: to them.
The hypocrite therefore is not for the closet, but the s}Tiag jNIatth. vi. 5, 6. Not but that education, example, or the im of conscience, may sometimes drive him thither ; but it is n< daily delight to be there ; his meat and drink to retire from the our of the world to enjoy God in secret. It is the observati their duties is the great inducement to these men to perform t and, verily, saith our Lord, ver. 2. " they have their rew arr-yjiTt, they have it away, or they have carried off all the b and advantage that ever they shall have by religion. Much may it do them with their applause and honour, let them
568 RELIGIOUS DUTIES ARE HEART-DISCOVERIES.
some communion in the morning, lie sensibly finds it in tl and unprofitableness of bis heart and life all the day aft(
4. Fourthly, The spirituality of our duties tries the sinc( graces : An unregenerate heart is carnal, whilst engage that are spiritual. Some men deceive themselves in thii are spiritual men, because their employments and callir spiritual things, Hosea ix. 7. This indeed gives them the tion, but not the frame of spiritual men; and others ji selves spiritual persons, because they frequently perform upon spiritual duties : But, alas, the heart and state ma notwithstanding all this. O, my friends, it is not enou object of your duties be spiritual, that they respect an hoh that the matter be spiritual, that you be conversant about 1 but the frame of your heart must be spiritual ; an heave of soul is necessary, and what are the most heavenly dut it.? The end and design you aim at must be spiritual, th( of God, and a growing conformity to him in holiness ; e^ duties as the sand on the sea-shore, and they all will no one evidence of your sincerity. " God is my witness w " with my spirit," saith the apostle, Rom. i. 9. He seen to God in this matter. I serve God in my spirit, and that I do so ; I dare appeal to him that it is so; he kn( heart is with him, or would be with him in my duties: my faith do either sensibly grasp, or are stretched out t in my duties. O how little favour do gracious hearts most excellent duties, if God and their souls do not se in them !
Certainly, reader, there is a time when God comes r in duty, when he deals familiarly with men, and scnsibl souls with unusual powers and delights. The near ap
God to their souls are felt by them, (for souls have the
"well as bodies) and now are their minds abstracted and n refined from all that is material and earthly, and swal.
spirtual excellencies and glories.
These are the real prelibations, or foretastes of glon man can by words, make another to understand, as he \ that feels them.
These seasons, I confess, do but rarely occur to the b( tains, nor continue long when they do:* Alas! this stronff for such weak bottles as we are. 'Hold, Lord, (a
RKLIGIOCS DUTIES AEF. KEART-DISCOVEniES.
describe. These seasons are the golden spots of our lives, wh are admitted to these near and ineffable views and tastes of
Possibly some poor Christians can say but little to these things; sorrows are exercised in duties more than their joys; they a deavouring to mount, but the stone hangs at the heel ; they but cannot rise to that height that others do, who are got" i their labouring faith into the upper region, and there display wings, and sing in the sun-beams: But though they cannot this height, yet have they no satisfaction in duties wherein th no intercourse betwixt God and their souls.
That which contents another, will not content a Christian. ' king be absent, men will bow to the empty chair : but if G( absent, an empty duty gives no satisfaction to a gracious spirit, poorest Christian is found panting after God by sincere desire labouring to get up that dead and vain heart to God in duty, (thi alas ! it is many times but the rolling of the returning stone a< the hill) yet he never expects advantage by that duty wherei Spirit of God is not ; nor doth he expect the Spirit of God si be where his own spirit is not.
5. Fifthly, Assiduity and constancy in the duties of religion a notable discovery of the soundness or rottenness of men"*s h The hypocrite may shew some zeal and forwardness in duties time, but he will jade and give out at length ; Job xxvii. 10. " " he delight himself in the Almighty.'* Will he always call " God i"^ No, he will not. If his motions in religion were na they would be constant ; but they are artificial, and he is mov( external inducements, and so must needs be off and on ; he himself wearv of praying, and hears himself weary of hearing ; heart is not delighted in his duties, and therefore his duties needs grow stale and dry to him after a while. There be thre( sons in which the zeal of an hypocrite may be inflamed in dutif
First, When some imminent danger threatens him ; some i rod of God is shaken over him ; " When he slew them, then
sought him, and returned and enquired early after ( Psalm Ixxviii. 34<. O the goodly words they give, the fair pro they make ! and yet all the while " they do but flatter him " their lips,^and lie unto him with their tongues,'^ ver. 36, 31 let but that danger pass over, and the heavens clear up again, he will restrain prayer, and return to his old course again.
Second!//, When the times countenance and favour religion, the wind is in his back, O what zeal will he have for God ! So i
570 UELIGIOUS DUTIES ARE HEAIIT-DISCOVERIES.
" Come, see my zeal ;"" for what ? For a base self-interc Gcd. How fervently Avill some men pray, preach, ai whilst they sensibly feel the incomes and profits of thes their flesh ; whilst they are admired and applauded !
These external incentives will put an hypocrite into a ?eal ; but then, as it is with a man, whose colours are ra lieat of the fire, and not by the healthfulness of a good c it soon fades and fails again.
But, blessed be God, it is not so with all : The man ^ is upright with his God, will " keep judgment, and do r\<
" at all times,"" Psal. cvi. 3. Whether dangers threat Avhether the times favour religion or no ; whether his eart be promoted by it or no, he will be holy still, he will nc his duties when they are stript naked of those external £ as the addition of these things to religion did not at first ( so the subtraction of them cannot disengage him.
If his duty become his reproach, yet Moses will not fors xi. 26. If he lose his company, and be left alone, yet P flinch from his duty, 2 Tim. iv. 16. If hazard surrou every side, yet Daniel will not quit it, Dan. vi. 10. for the^ these things at first, and counted the cost ; they still fin rich enough to pay the cost of all that they can lose, or i sake; yea, and that with an hundred-fold reward now They never had any other design in engaging in religioui to help them to heaven ; and if they recover heaven at 1 the w ay to it prove better or worse, they have their desig and therefore they will be stedfast, " always abounding *' of the Lord, as knowing their labour is not in vain in 1 Cor. XV. ult.
6. Sixthly^ The humility and self-denial of our hear will try what they are for their integrity and sincerity tc Doth a man boast in his own excellencies in prayer, as t did, Luke xviii. 10, 11. " God, I thank thee, I am not as Which he speaks not in an humble acknowledgment of God which differences man from man, but in a proud oi his own excellencies. Doth a man make his duties his s trust to them in a vain confidence of their worth and dig xviii. 9Surely, " his heart, which is thus lifted up w
" not upright, Hab. ii. 4. But if the heart be uprigh will express its humility, as in all other things, so esp duties wherein it approaches the great and holy God.
KELIGIOUS DUTIES ARE HEART-DISCOVERIES.
and tiieir religious performances : Thus that poor penitent, vii. S8. stood behind Christ weeping: " Yet the dogs eat the crui saith another, Mark vii. 28. " I am more brutish than any i saith a third, Prov. xxx. 7. " I abhor myself in dust and a.
saith a i'ourth, Job xlii. 6. and as httie esteem they have for performances, Isa. Ixiv. 6. " All our righteousnesses are as
rags.'' I deny not but there is pride and vanity in the mos right ones ; but what place soever it finds in their converses men, it finds httle room in their converses with God, or if it thev loath it, and themselves for it.
Thirdly, But especially their humility in duty is discovered nouncing all their duties in point of dependence, and relying en upon Christ for righteousness and acceptance : They have s] regard to duties in point of obedience, but none at all in poi rehance.
7. Seventhly, The communion and intercourse which is be God and men in duties, notably discovers what their person: graces are. And it must needs do so, because what communic ever the h^-pocrite hath with duties, or with saints in duties, sure he hath none with God.
None can come nigh to God in duty, but those that are nigh by reconciliation: All special communion with Christ is foi in real union with Christ ; but " the wicked are estranged fro; « womb," Psalm Iviii. 3.
But now there is real communion betwixt God and his peo] duties. Truly our fellowship, xor^uivia, our communion is wit Father and Son, 1 John i. 3. God pours forth of his Spirit them, and they ]X)ur forth their hearts to God. It is sensibly ] fested to them when the Lord comes nigh to their souls in dut^ as sensible they are of his retreats and withdrawments from thei/i
Cant. iii. 1, 4. They find their hearts, like the heliotrope, ope shut according to the accesses and recesses of the divine preThey that never felt any thing of this nature, mav call it a f but the Lord's people ai*e abundantly satisfied of the reality thi Their very countenance is altered by it, 1 Sam. i. 18. the sac cloudy countenance of Hannah cleared up, there was fair weatl her face, as soon as she knew she had audience and acceptance her God. I know all communion with God doth not consist ir and comforts ; there is a real communion with God in the mo ing and humbling influences of his Spirit upon men, as in thee ing and refreshing influences thereof I know also there is a d72 EELIGIOtJS DUTIES ARE HEAftT-DISCO^^lERIES differences the sound and the unsound heart. All the ( world will never make an hypocrite more holy, humble than he is: but will, as the watering of a dry stick, st than make it flourishing and fruitful. What was Juds for all those heavenly sermons, praj'ers, and discourse which he heard ? And what will thy soul be the bettei duties thou performest weekly and daily, if thy heiirt b It is plain, from Job xv. 4. there must be an impla; Christ, before there can be an improvement in fruitfu And it is as plain, from 1 John ii. 14. that the virtu ances must remain ; the efficacy and power that we soi under them, must abide and remain in the heart afterv/, cannot grow, and be made fruitful by them.
But the false professor is neither rooted in Christ by him, nor doth, or can retain the virtue of ordinances w but, like one that views his face in a glass, quickly fc manner of man he was : his head indeed may grow, his may increase, but he hath a dead and withered heart.
i3ut as the saints have real communion with God in dui do make improvements answerable thereunto : There i tainly a ripening of their graces that way ; a changing transformation from glory to glory ; a springing up to tl ture of the man in Christ. " They that are planted in tl
the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God," Ps 14. There is pure and sincere milk in the breasts of ord believer sucks the very breasts of Christ in his duties, and thereby, 1 Pet. ii. 2. they do grow more and more jud perienced, humble, mortified, and heavenly, by conversii Lord so frequently in his appointments.
There is, I confess, a more discernible growth and : some Christians, than in others : The faith of some growi ingly, 2 Thess. i. 8. others more slowly, Heb. v. 12. bu are improvements of grace in all upright ones: habits are n radicated, or fruits of obedience more increased.
Object. If any upright sonl be stumbled at this^ as not to discern the increase of his graces, after all his duties.
Sol. Let such consider the growth of grace is discerr growth of plants is, which we perceive rather crevisse, i cere ; to have grown, than to grow : Compare time pas sent, and you may see it ; but usually our eager desires i make us overlook what we have as nothing.
THE ADVAirrAGES OF SIXCERITr.
grace : He may enable them to preach judiciously, not experim ally ; to pray orderly and neatly, not feelingly, believingly, broken-heartedly ; " For as many as are led by the Spirit of (
they are the sons of God," Rom. viii. 14. He never so as but where he hath first sanctified. Carnal men furnish the mate of their duties out of the strength of their parts : a strong meir a good invention are the fountains which they draw.
But it is otherwise with souls truly gracious ; they have ordin a threefold assistance from the Spirit in reference to their dutie
First, Before duties, exciting them to it, making them feel : need of it, like the call of an empty stomach; Psalm xxv
" Thou saidst, Seek my face ; my heart answered, Thy face, I
« will I seek."
Secondly, In their duties, furnishing both matter and affec as in that text lately cited, Rom. viii. 26. guiding them not what to ask, but how to ask.
Thirdly, After their duties, helping them not only to sup] the pride and vanity of their spirits, but also to wait on God fo accomplishment of their desires.
Now, though all these things, wherein the sincerity of our hi is tried in duties, be found in great variety (as to degrees) an saints, yet they are mysteries unknown by experience to other
CHAP. VIII.
Opening the trials of sincerity and hypocrisy, hy stifferings the account of religion.
SECT. I.
T y E are now arrived at the last trial of grace propounded, by sufferings for religion.
Thousands of hypocrites embark themselves in the professic religion in a calm ; but if the wind riseth, and the sea rageth, they see religion will not transport them safely to the cape of earthly hopes and expectations, they desire to be landed aga soon as may be ; for they never intended to ride out a storr
Christ : So you find, Matth. xiii. 20, 21. " He endureth for a w
but when tribulation of persecution ariseth because of the won
574 THE ADVANTAGES OF SINCERITY,
3. Thirdly, What advantages sincere grace liath to \ severe and sharp trial.
SECT. II.
1. 1^ OW the fire of persecution, or sufferings for re be judged intense, and high enough to separate gold am
First, When religion exposes us to imminent liazard c est and dearest interests in this world : Such are oi estates, and lives : Then it is a fierce and fiery trial inde times it exposes the liberties of its professors, Rev. ii.
devil shall cast .some of you into prison. Sometimes t Heb. X. 34. ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods :' times their lives, Heb. xi. 37. " They were stoned, the}; "asunder, they were slain with the sword." Whilst higher than some small inconveniencics of life, reputatioi of honour will hold a false heart ; but when it comes 1 will be found able to endure it, but those that expect to s£ by religion but their souls, and account themselves in g they can but save them with the loss of all that is dear this world.
Here the false heart boggles ; here it usually jades ai Secondlij, The fiery trial is then high, when there visible hopes of deliverance, or outward encouragemen that the scene will alter. When " we see not our signs,
more any prophet, nor any that can tell us how long," with the church was, Psal. Ixxiv. 9. Then their hands ] and their hearts faint : Nor is it to be wondered at, whe: of troubles prove so sore a temptation even to the upri< forth their hands to iniquity ; as it is Psal. cxxv. 3. If si tation shake such men as build on the rock, it must qui those whose foundation is but sand.
Thirdly, When a false professor is engaged alone in and is singled out from the herd, as a deer to be run dc is a thousand to one but he quits religion to save him company will encourage a faint-hearted traveller to jog way ; but if he be forsaken by all, as Paul was, no m by him ; if left alone, as Elijah was, what can encourage out ?
Indeed, if they liad the same visible supports those had. that the Lord was with them, that would keep th
THE ADVANTAGES OF SfXCEiaTY.
we must hate father and mother, ^-ife and children, or claim to Christ and heaven ! This is hard work indeed.
How hard did that truly noble and renowned Galeacius Carrj lus find this ! O what a conflict found he in his bowels ! Now C and our dearest interest come to meet like two men upon a na bridge ; if one go forward, the other must go back, and noi predominate interest can no longer be concealed.
FifUily, When powerful temptations are mixed with cruel si ings ; when we are strongly tempted, as well as cruelly perseci This blows up the fire to a vehement height. This was the tr those precious primitive believers, Heb. xi. 35, 37. " They
stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted.'" Hen life, liberty, and preferment set upon one hand, and death ii most formidable shape upon the other. This cannot but be a trial to any, but especially when a cruel death and tender te meet, then the trial goes high indeed.
SECT. III.
2. xm.ND that such sufferings as these will discover the fals and rottenness of men's hearts cannot be doubted : If you con that this is the fire designed bv God, for this xery use and pur to separate the gold from the dross : so you will find it, 1 Pet. ii
Beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which
try you,'' i. e. the very design and aim of providence in permi and ordering them, is to try vou. The design of Satan is to de you ; but God's design is to try you. Upon this account you the hour of persecution (in a suitable notion) called " the ho " temptation or probation,'' Rev. iii. 10. for then professors are i to the very bran ; searched to the very bottom principles. " *' is the day that burns as an oven, in which all the proud, an " that do wickedly, shall be as stubble,"" Mai. iv. 1. For,
1. Firsts In that day the predominant interest must appear, ai discovered : It can be concealed no longer ; *' No man can serv(
" masters," saith Christ, Luke xvi. 13. A man may serve i masters, if they all command the same thinsrs, or things subord L I 1 1 to each other; but he cannot serve two masters, if their comii clash and interfere with each other : And such are the comman
Christ and the flesh in a suffering hour. Christ saith, *' Be *' faithful to the death ;" the flesh saith, Spare thyself, and S( the comforts of life. Christ saith, " He that loveth father or mc *• wife, or chlldrpn. lanrlsop inlipritnnfA mnro tVion ma ic nr»<- \i-<
lO I'HE ADVANTAGES OF SIXCEUITY.
know not which of the two is his master ; stay but their path parts, and then you shall quickly see who is his is it in this case.
2. Secondly^ In that day sensible supports fail, and all a ; comes in by the pure and immediate actings of faith ; a not for those reliefs, his heart would soon faint and die a discouragements, 2 Cor. iv. 17, 18. "We faint not whil
not at the things which are seen, for they are temporal " things which are not seen, for they are eternal," q. d. not our eye intently fixed upon the invisible and eterna the coming world, we shall feel ourselves fainting and ( under the many troubles and afflictions of this world. " I " (saith holy David) if I had not believed." How then shall the hypocrite live at such a time, who hath no faith him .'' No relief but what comes in through the senses .'
3. Thirdly, In that day all mere notions and specula religion vanish ; and nothing relieves and satisfies the su but what it really believes, and what it hath satisfying pr perience of in himself There are a great many pretty a notions which our minds are entertained with ; some deli^ of peace, which can do us no service at all in the day of tn for your speculative, unpractical knowledge of the greate religion, as little service is to be expected from them : Exc( better evidence and security about them, we shall be lotl all upon the credit of them.
That is a very considerable passage to that purpose in
Yetook joyfully the spoiling of your goods, (knowing in " that ye have in heaven a better and more enduring This knowing' in yourselves is by inward and sensible taste and feeling, which is abundantly satisfying to the stands opposed to all that traditional knowledge we n others ; which, as it lcav?s the mind fluctuating, so thi dead and comfortless.
4. Fourthly^ In that day the root and foundation of a and hope is tried, and then they that have built upon th needs fail ; for every thing is as its foundation ; principl what a root is to a tree, or a foundation to a house ; a fla defect there most assuredly ruins all. This we find to scope of those two famous parables, Luke xiv. 25. and 21. Lesser troubles shake but the branches, but these root ; if nothing be found there but self-ends ; the force o
THE ADVANTAGES OF SINCERITY.
the hypocrite, like Oi-pah, will forsake reli^on ; but sine vill make the soul cleave to it, as Ruth did to Naomi.
SECT. IV.
3. ▼ ? HAT advantages sincerity gives the soul for its estab ment and perseverance in suffering times, I shall briefly accoun in the following particulars.
1. Firsts Sincere godliness dethrones that idol, the love of world, in all true Christians ; and this is it that makes men si and flinch from Christ in a day of suffering. I do not deny but believers themselves love the world too much ; but they love it n their chief good : it is not their portion or happiness ; if any m: love the world, " the love of the Father is not in him,'' 1 Jol 15. How much soever a sincere Christian loves the world, yet it is in subordination to the love of God, John xxi. 15. Sincerit consist with no other love of the world ; it will not suffer such a ci plant to grow under its shadow.
Now, what is it, but this inordinate, supreme love of the crea that makes men forsake Christ in time of temptation ? This wa ruin of that young man. Mat. xix. 22. " He went away sorro' " for he had great possessions." This was the overthrow of De 2 Tim. iv. 10. "He hath forsaken me, (saith the apostle) ho " loved this present world." The love of this world, like sap in c wood, will not suffer you to burn for Christ ; get but the heart tified to the creature by a discovery of better things in heaven, it will establish and fix your spirits, that it shall not be in the p of creatures to shake you off from Christ vour foundation.
2. Secondit/, Sincerity knits the soul to Christ, and union with secures us in the greatest trials; Min'imnr quatcnus iinimur. hypocrite having no union with Christ, can have no communion him, nor communications of grace trom him ; and so that little i of his own being quickly spent (I mean natural courage and re tion) and no incomes from Christ, he must needs give up in a : time. But it is with a believer in a day of trouble, as it is w garrison besieged by land, but free and open to the sea, whence supplies are daily sent in to relieve it : See 2 Cor. i. 5. *' Ai
sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abc " eth by Christ ; fresh aids and daily supplies proportionable t( expences and decays of strength : So Col. i. 11. " Strengthened
all might in the inner-man, according to his glorious power, '• all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness." And this i
578 THE ADVANTAGES OF SINCERITY.
heels , despise the riches, pleasures, and honours of Egypt eye was fixed upon him that is invisible, and had respect compence of reward, Heb. xi. 24, 25, 26. And it was a t of the forty martyrs to Valence the emperor, tempting the preferments and honours of the world, ' Why offe * trifles to us, when you know how the whole world is * by us ?' And for temptations on the left hand, how littl move that soul, who realizes the glory of the approaching sees the afflictions and sufferings of this world preparing h hastening him to the enjoyment of it : temptations meei cold entertainment from such souls.
4. Fourthly, Sincerity drives but one design, and that ; and enjoy God : and what can more establish and fix the hour of temptation than this ? The reason why the h unstable in all his ways, is given us by the apostle James, a double-minded man, ht-^ Myoc, avr,^, a man of two souls in as a profane wretch once boasted, that he had one soul fo: another for any thing. But all the designs of a graciou united in one ; and so the entire stream of his affections ri
It is base by-ends and self-interests, that, like a great mi cut out of the bank of a river, draw away the stream out o channel, and make its waters fail. But if the heart be unit* as the expression is. Psalm Ixxxvi. 11. then we may sa\ Christian as was said of a young Roman, Quicquid vult, i What he doth is done with all his might. And this was i of that saying, Liberet me Deus ab homine unius tmitu A man of one only design, puts to all his strength to carry i can stand before him.
5. Fifthly, Sincerity brings a man''s will into subjection of God ; and this being done, the greatest danger and ( over with such a man. This is that holy oil which makes of the soul run nimbly, even in difficult paths of obedience dat uncta rota. Let but a man be once brought to that,
" of the Lord be done,"" as it is Acts xxi. 13. to see the hig of cheerful obedience in the holy, just, and good will of then all the difficulty is over ; he can suffer quietly what unjustly.
6. Sixthly, Sincerity takes its measures of present thi rules of faith and eternity ; it goes not by the same reel account that others do, who judge of things byscnse,and 1 they have to the present world, 2 Cor. iv. 18. " ^Ve look
THE DESIGN OF GOD IN THE TRIAL OF HIS PEOPLE.
ing himself for them : A steady eye upon the other world make) more than conquerors over the troubles of this world.
7. Seventldy^ To conclude ; sincerity alone hath all the heav< aids and assistances to stability, and perseverance in suffering tin upright ones (and such only) have Christ's intercession in heaven them, Rom. vili. 34. The Spirit's consolation in all their troul 1 Pet. iv. 14. The Spirit of glory and of God resteth on them : beneficial ministry of angels, who are sent forth upon their accoi Heb. 1. 14. A stock ofprat/ers, going up from them all the world o Eph. vi. 18. Multitudes of precious promises in the scriptures ; every line, word, and syllable of which the faithfulness of God sta engaged : so that it is Impossible such gold can perish In the fii
And thus of the several ways by which grace Is here txied.
CHAP. IX.
Opening the designs and ends of God., in bringing the professor religion into such various trials of their graces in this xcorla
SECT. I.
X HESE are some of the ways and methods in which God br his gold to the touchstone, and to the fire, even In this world, be the awful and solemn trial they must come to in the final judgmi and if we desire to be satisfied what the design or end of Got making such probations of his people is.
We must conclude, in the general, he certainly designs his i glory, and his people's advantage and profit in them. If he sv them to be tried bv reproaches, happy are they, the Spirit of God of glory resteth on them ; there is their profit ; and though his nam evil spoken of, yet in the meekness of their spirits he is glorijied, is, 1 Pet iv. 14. " If the scourge slay suddenly, he laugheth at
trial of the innocent,"" Job Ix. 28. Not at their afiilctions, bu the effects and blessed Issues and results of them : Not that Itg them pain, but that it gives them glor\'. Upon this account apostle bids us count it all joy when we fall into diverse temptat or trials : and still the more trials the more joy ; for thereby ( will produce such effects as are more precious than gold that pel eth, 1 Pet. 1. 7. O who can value the comfort that Is tasted by soul upon the trial and discovery of its sincerity, when after s<
580 THE DESIGN OF GOD IN THE TRIAL OF HIS PEG prophet did, Jer. xii. 3. " But thou, O Lord, knowes " hast seen me, and tried mine heart towards thee.""
I say, who can duly vakie such an advantage: wh( change such a comfort i'or all the gold and silver in the w many trials soever God brings his people under, to be his own glory nor their interest shall suffer any damage
SECT, II.
XJUT more particularly, let us bring our thoughts close ter before us, and we shall find many great advantages rising out of these trials of sincerity : For,
1 . Fir.st, Hereby hypocrisy is unmasked and discover ard is plucked off from the false professor, and his true and complexion shewn to the world ; and in this there deal of good.
Object. Goodycni xc'illsay, xvliere lies It? All the loorld. vh'tej'and sad effects of it ; many are stumbled^ many a hy it .\ " Woe to the world because of offences !" Mattl
Sol. True, some are prejudiced and hardened by it, sc have good thoughts of the M'ays and people of God mo sad indeed ; however, therein God accomplishes his wc ecuteth his decree ; and though these perish, yet,
Firsts Others are warned, awakened, and set a scai own hearts nmre narrowly than ever, and this is good, ] 1.^. Now these were our examples ; " wherefore 1 " thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall."
Secondly, Hereby sin is ashamed; and it is good when ; exposed men to so much shame, shall be itself expose
This is the just reward of sin, Jer. xiii. 25, 26. " Thi " the portion of thy nieasures from me, saith the Lo '%thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood, the "discover thy skirts upon thy face, that thy shame ma
The turning up the skirt is a modest expression of ex] son to the greatest shame in the day of trial; God by hypocrisy, shames the hypocrite ; and surely, many sucl are made of men at this day : We may see sin, that lurkei heart before, now laid open before all Israel, and befor
Thirdly, Hereby the poor self-cozening hypocrite hath opportunity and advantage that ever was before him in i recover himself out of the snare of the devil. Now all 1 nrp o-nnp ! r\n.\v tliat whirli llkp n «liipld wns ndvnncnd ac
THE DESIGN OF GOD IN THE TRIAL OF KIS PEOPLE.
Secondli/j By these trials integrity is cleared up, and the d< and fears of many upright and holy ones allayed and quieted solved and satisfied.
O what would many a poor Christian give for satisfaction in great point of sincerity ! How many tears have been thed toGi secret ujxjn that account? How many hours have been spent ii amination of his own heart about it, and still jealousies and fears U|X)n his heart ? He doubts what he may prove at last. Well, God, let his sincerity then come to the test, kindle the fire, ant in mv gold. Trials ai'e the high way to assurance ; let my chil that he loves me more than these, that his heart is upright witl I will try him bv prosperity and by adversity, by persecution; temptations, and he shall see his heart is better than he suspe to be. This shall be the day of resolution to his fears and do
The apostle speaking of heresies, 1 Cor. xi. T, 9. puts a nece upon them : There must be heresies., saith he, that they ich'ich ai proved may be made manifest. The same necessity there is (an the same end) of all other trials of grace, that the lovely, beau sweet face of sincerity may be opened sometimes to the world, t amour them, and to the soul in whom it is, to satisfy it tliat it not personate a Christian, but lives the very life of a Christian, hath the very spirit and principles of a Christian in it.
3. Thirdly, By these trials, pride and self-confidence are destr and mortified in the saints, as much as by any thing in the w
We never see what poor, weak creatures we are, until we come t trial. It is said, Deut. viii. 2. " God led Israel through the d<
" to prove them, and to humble them." "When we are proved, we are humbled. Those that over-reckon their graces before trial, see they must come to another account, and take new meas of themselves after they have been upon trial.
Ah ! little did I think, saith one, that I had so much love fo world, and so little for God, until afflictions tried it. I could have believed that ever the creature had got so deep into mv h until providence either threatened or made a separation, and th found it. I thought I had been rich in faith, until such a da befel me, or such a want began to pinch hard ; and then I saw unable I was to trust God for protection, or provision. 'O it good thing that our hearts be kept humble and lowly, how ricl ever they be in grace.
4. Fourthly^ By trials grace is kept in exercise, and the grat 60ul preserved from security and spiritual slothfulness. Trials a
582 THE DESIGN OF GOD IN THE TRIAL OF HIS TEO
" hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled
and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel ; neit
gone into captivity ; therefore his taste remained in h " scent is not changed," Jer. xlviii. 11. Much after that rate it would be with our hearts, did n frequently try and exercise them. Let the best man be w trial or other but a few months, and you may find the ^ his prayers and conferences quickly. O what a tang of fc be found in them ! And is it for the honour of God, his peo})le, that it should be so ? No, the Lord knowi buthow shall their spirits be reduced to their former zealoi temper again.? Why, saith the Lord, they must into the fu
I will melt them and try them ; for how shall I do for t " of my people," Jer. ix. 7. I love them too well to k want of a rod. Alas ! if I should sufl'er things to go on what will become of them in a little time.'' What deligh in their duties, when the faith, fervour, humility, and li ness of their spirits are wanting in them.'' I will therefore re
silver is rciined, and try tJiem as gold is tried, and th
upon my name, and I will hear them, and I will say. It ii " and they shall say, The Lord is my God." Zech. xiiL the Lord chides himself friend again with his people.
Thus he recovers them to their true temper, and thi tions do preserve their spirits ; and when the Lord sees effects of his trial upon them, it greatly pleaseth him. ( God, I like it ; this providence hath done them good ; 1 well bestowed ; the letting loose of this temptation, or 1 tion upon them, hath made them find their knees again ; the voice of my child again.
Beloved, this is a blessed fruit and effect of our free and how ungrateful soever tliev are to flesh and blood, ease, and is loth to be disturbed, yet it is neceesaiy to tl tion of our spirits.
5. F'lfihly, By the trial of our graces Satan is defeated cusations of the saints found to be mere slanders. It is mon thing with the devil and wicked men, to accuse tl
God of hypocrisy, and to tell the Morld they are not t' Avomeu they ai-e taken to be ; and that if their inside wen out by some thorough trial, or deep search, it would ap] ligion did not indeed live in their souls, as they preter tliey only act a part, and personate heavenly and morti
THE DESIGN OF GOD IK THE TRIAL OF HIS PEOfLE.
but if thou stop the current of his prosperity, thou shall sec quickly he will stop the course of his duty ; A few lashes fror hand will make him curse thee to thy face. But O what slmnn disappointment was it to that envious spirit ? What a vindicat
Job's integrity, - when under the greatest trials of his faith patience, he still held fast his integrity, and shewed himself as a pattern of patience under the cross, as he had been of piety i days of liis greatest prosperity ! Satan gets nothing by bringing the saints upon the stage, to be made a spectacle to angels and as it is, 1 Cor. iv. 9-
6. Sixthly^ and lastly. The frequent trials of grace exhibit and living testimony against the atheism of the world. These ■ beyond all words or arguments that religion is no fancy, bi greatest reality in the world : Men would make religion but a f and the zeal of its professors, but the intemperate heat of some brains, over-heated with a fond notion.
They that never felt the real influences of religion upon thei] souls, W'ill not believe that others do feel them. Serious piety come the ludicrous subject with which the wanton wits of this a tical world s}X)rt themselves. But behold the wisdom and goo of God exhibiting to the world the undeniable testimonies of the of religion, as often as the sincere professors thereof are brou| the test by afflictions from the hand of God, or persecution the hands of men : Lo ! here is tliejatth and patience of the sc here is their courage, meekness, and self-denial, shining as g( the fire ; they have the real proofs of it before their eyes ; in of casting them into hell, and convincing them by eternal fire, pleased to cast his own people into the fire of affliction, that who scoff at them may be convinced at an easier and cheaper It is no new thing to see the enemies of relicrion brought ov embrace it, by the constancy and faithfulness of the saints in trials and sufferings for it. God grant that the atheism of thi; sent generation do not occasion a more fiery trial to the ]ieo] God in it, than they have yet suffered I
CHAP. X.
that that grace only is to be reckoned sincere and
can endure those trials which God appointSy or permit the discovery of' it.
584 TRIED GRACE IS TRITE GRACK.
our sincerity impossible to be had in this Hfe, because as live hero, we are in a state of trial ; and how many trials s been made upon us already, yet still there are more to < we know not what we shall prove in future trials, though kept us upright in former trials : No, this is none of mj/ nor doth such a conclusiori hecessarily follow this asse a Christian that hath rightly closed with Christ at first, faithful in the duties of active and passive obedience hit!
be assured upon good grounds, of a victory before he comi of his remaining trials. So was the apostle, Rom. vii
" Who shall separate us from the love of Christ.? Shall t
" or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, o
" sword ? Nay, in all these we are more than conqueror
" him that hath loved us." Here is an assured triumph combat. So Job xxiii. 10. " But he knoweth the way tl
when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." 1 to God for the sincerity of his heart so far as he had hithe the Avay of religion, and thence concludes, that whatever should bring him to in time to come, he should come for i. e. he should not lose one grain by the fire. And this of a gracious soul is built not only upon experience gaine trials, but upon faith in the power, promises, and faithfuln
are engaged for him in the covenant of grace, to k the greatest dangers that befal him in this world.
He believes the power of God is able to make him stai he hath no power nor might in himself to overcome the le< tion, 1 Pet. i. 5. " You are kept, ipenen/iivoi (kept as in a g
the power of God through faith unto salvation." W hath once taken possession of the soul by his spirit, he foi his power, as in a garrison : that using the means, it be s betrayed no more into the enemy's hand, so as finally to He builds this confidence also upon the promises of God his security in future dangers: And how are all the p£ Bible bespangled with such promises, as the firmament is and glorious stars ? Such are these of the first magnitude,
9. " Christ shall confirm you to the end, that you may b *' in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, t *' are called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ And no less satisfying and sweet is that, Jer. xxxii. 4C
will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I wi " away from them to do them good ; but I will put my f
TRIED GllACE IS TUUE GRACE.
lot in this promise ; but it secures the whole flock of Christ, , and small, against all danger.
He also builds his assurance upon the faithfulness of God, v stands engaged to make gootl every line, word, and syllable o promises to his people, so we find in 1 Cor. x. 13. " There ha *' temptation taken you but such as is common to man ; but G " faithful, who will not suffer you to be temptetl above that y " able ; but w ill with every temptation make a way to escape,
" ye may be able to bear it." And, 2 Thes. iii. 3. " But the "is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil." Add to this the constant prevalent intercession of Christ in he for his people, in all their trials : and thus you will see a si Christian need not to deny himself the joy and comfort of his a ance, upon the account and supposition of his future trials.
SECT. II.
Caution 2. i^ OR do we here suppose, in this assertion, that i ent grace in the saints hath a sufficiency of ability in itself to er the greatest and severest trials that can befal it in this world, certain that it shall be carried safely through all, but not in its strength and ability.
This is a true observation of the learned Gerson, Perfectione relictw, sunt pondcra ad riiinam : The most perfect creature 1 itself, will fall into ruin. This was exemplified in the angels fell ; and in Adam, though in a perfect state. Divine prcserv is the prop which supports the best creatures from ruin. Grace is but a creature, and therefore a dependent being: It is but a sti depending upon the supply of the fountain : If the fountain k forth itself, what becomes of the stream ? That is a true and judi observation of the learned^ Dr. Ames, Perseverantia Jideliun immutabilis eorum conditio secundum integrum ejus rationem pervenit a principiojntrinseco solo, nee a solo extrinseco ; scd tim ab intrinseco, ex natura vitw spiritualis a Christ^ fluent partim ab extrinseco, ex custodia, protectione et directione
Amesii Coronis, Art. 5. The perseverance of beUevers, or th mutability of their condition, if we view the whole ground and r of it, is not wholly from within, or wholly from without itself: partly from the nature of the spiritual life which flows from C into them, and partly from the keeping, protection, and directi God : That protection is always afforded to this life of grace ; this life of grace always needs that protection. The best of me
586 TRIED GKACE IS TRUE GRACE.
tliis is that which I aim at, that such seeming grace as yet brought to the trial, nor will be able to bear the trial, shall bring it thereto, must not pass for current (as toofr doth) among us : Such grace will neither comfort us noi us hereafter : For,
SECT. III.
1. Jt IRST, great numbers of persons in the professing deceived and destroyed by trusting to seeming and unt this was the miserable condition of those Laodicean profe text ; they reckoned themselves rich, but were really p( not gold that glitters ; their gold (as they accounted it) tried in the fire. If a man's whole estate lay in some pro suppose a rich diamond, how is he concerned to have it tried, to see whether it will bear a smart stroke with a \ fly like a Bristol diamond under it ? All that you are w the truth and sincerity of your grace ; and till that b( know not whether you be worth any thing or nothing.
There are two sad sights in the world which deeply affect every upright heart ; one is to see so man)? of rational and ingenuous men in the Romish church, by faith in their guides, venturing their souls upon their 1 never searching the scriptures with their own eyes, but who to the infallibility of a pope or a council ; when, in the they would fear to take their word for a sum of mone some further security. It is amazing to behold the souleasy credulity of those men ; but this is a stroke of madn ritual infatuation, judicially inflicted upon them, that th( which is written might be fulfilled in them, " God shall
strong delusions, that they should believe a lie," 2 Th( And yet more amazing is that stroke of God upon mi vain and formal professors even in the reformed Protestar where no man is restrained from searching the script where men are so frequently and earnestly pressed, from sabbath, to examine themselves, and prove their own wo 8o many are content to leave all at hazard, and withou ado, or farther search in the matter, credit the rcjwrt ol deceitful hearts, and take all for granted, without due 1 amination of the matter.
Surely, no one thing sends down more souls daily to the professing world than this doth. The five foolish v
TRIED GRACr: IS TRUE GRACE.
the man that endureth temptation ; for when he is tried he i " receive the cro\vn of life which God hath promised to them " love him :" We must be first tried, and then crowned. "
*' man strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he si
" lawfully," 2 Tim. ii. 5. He manifestly alludes to the Ro games, to which there were judges appointed to see that no play were offered contrary to the law for wrestling ; and whei was found the crown was denied them. Not to him that sets f in the morning with resolution and gallantry, but to him that h out till the evening of his life, is the promise made ; Matth. x " He that endureth to the end shall be saved." So Rom. : " To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for ^
" and honour, and immortality, eternal life." And once n
Heb. iii. 14. " We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold th
" ginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end." So that if should endure some few slighter troubles, and faint at last, give when a closer trial befals you, all your labours and suffering; in vain. Sincerity and final perseverance are the conditions ( special promises.
3. Thirdly, Every man's graces and duties must be tried weighed by God in the great day ; and if they cannot endure 1 lesser trials to which God exposes them now, how will they en that severe and exact trial to which he will bring them then : man can search his own heart with that exactness in this worl< God will search it in the world to come.
I may say in this case to you as the Lord spake to Jeremiah, < xii. 5. " If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have we '• thee, then how canst thou contend with horses ? and if ii " land of |)eace, wherein thou trustedst, they have weeried " then how wilt thou do in the swellinor of Jordan .f*" This spoken to encourage the prophet to constancy in his work : ar if the Lord had said, O Jeremy, do the strivings of the men of thoth, thine own town, dishearten thee .? Pluck up thy spirits faint not ; there are harder trials than these that thou must unc at Jerusalem ; these are no more to what is coming, than the ning with footmen is to the contending with horses, or the pass small rivulet to the swellings of Jordan.
To allude to this ; if our graces and duties cannot bear the.ce 1 er trials ; if a little lift of prosperity, or lighter stroke of adversit cover so much falseness, rottenness, pride, and selfishness in the li if we cannot resist the motions of corruptions, but yield ourseh
588 PARTICULAR INFEUEXCES FIIOM THE THIAL OF GR.
1 2. who will try every man's work as by fire, 1 Cor. iii. the secrets of all hearts, Rom. ii. 16. weigh every man to and drachms ? Surely we can take little comfort in that \ unable to bear the severe tials of that day, that it canno fore the slighter trials of this day.
4. Fourthly^ True grace is willing to be tried, and noth desirable to an upright soul, than to know his own coi therefore we shun the trial, and are loth to search ourse searched by the Lord, our condition is suspicious, and w little comfort in it. It was David's earnest desire, Psal. c that God would thoroughly search his heart and reins, there were any way of wickedness in him. False gract
God's eye, it cares not to be examined ; but this is the sincere ones : " Every one that doth evil hateth the ligli *' deeds should be reproved ; but he that doth truth, cor " light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they ai " in God," John iii. 20, 21.
The reason is plain why hypocrisy cannot endure to c touchstone and test ; for hypocrites, having a secret consc their own guilt and unsoundness, know, that by this mean confidence would quickly be confuted, and all their reputa ligion blasted. But oh ! if men dare not stand before the w now opened and applied by ministers, how will they star shall be opened and applied in another manner by Jesus
O professor, if thy condition be good, thy heart right, desire to know the very worst of thyself; and when thou the deepest search, thou canst, thou wilt still fear thoi been severe enough, and impartial enough to thyself; n( give thee more content than when thou feelest the wor( thy soul and spirit, thy joints and marrrow ; nothing so i forts thee under, or after an affliction, as the discovery it of my heart ; thou wilt seem to feel with what affection tl came from the prophet's lips, Jer. xii. 2. " But thou, O L< " est me, thou hast seen me, and tried my heart towards what a refreshing sweetness will stream through thy hea the powers of thy soul, when thou canst make the like app with like sincerity ! And certainly, without such a disj spirit towards the trial of our graces, we can have little e the truth of them.
CHAP. XI.
rAIlTICULAR IXFEREKCES FROM THE TKIAL OF GRACE.
and to how little purpose do men endeavour to conceal and hide We say, Murder will out ; and we may as confidently affirm, Hyi crisy will out. When Rebecca had laid the plot to disguise her; Jacob, and by personating his brother, to get the blessing, Jacob tl objects against it, " !My father peradventure will feel me, and I si *' seern to him as a deceiver ; and I shall bring a curse upon i
" and not a blessing,'' Gen. xxvii. 12. as if he should say, but w if my father detect the cheat, how then shall I look him in the fa( How shall I escape a curse .'* After the same manner every upri; soul scares itself from the way of hypocrisy. If I dissemble, i pretend to be what I am not, my Father will find me out. A there is no darkness nor shadow of death that can conceal the hy crite, but out will come at last, let him use all the art he can to h it. Oftentimes God discovers him by the trials he appoints in 1
; and men in that day shall " return and discern betwixt " righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God, j " him that serveth him not,'' Mai. iii. 18. But if he make an h shift to get bv a private wav to hell, carrying this comfort with 1 to the last step, that no body knows or thinks he is gone thith yet there will be a day when God will strip him naked before great assembly of angels and men, and all shall point at them, i say, Lo ! this is the man that made not God his hope.
This is he that wore a garment of profession to deceive, but C hath now stript him out of it, and all men see what he is : I
There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, and hid t " shall not be known," ]Matth. x. 26. And the apostle assures 1 Tim. V. 24, 25. " That they that are otherwise, cannot be h If men's works be not good, it is impossible they should be long : A gilded piece of brass may pass from hand to hand a li while, but the touchstone Avill discover the base metal : If that not, the fire will.
O sinners ! away with your hypocrisy, be honest, sincere, pi and hearty in religion : If not, confusion of face shall be your compence from the Lord ; that is what you shall get by it.
Infer. 2. Secondlij, Are there such trials appointed and permit by the Lord for the discovery of his people's sincerity in this wor Then let none of GofT s people expect a quiet station in this zcor Certainly you shall meet with no rest here, you must out of one into another : and it is a merciful condescension of the Lord to j creatures, thus to concern himself for their safety and bene
" AVhat is man that thou shouldst magnify him ? and that t
S90 PARTICULAR INFERENCES FROM THE TRIAL OF GR and so curiously into the fining-pot, to see that none of 1 metal, upon which he sets his heart, be lost.
Think it not then debasing to you to be so often expos If God did not value you highly, he would not try you s ly : What would become of you if your condition here more settled and quiet than now it is? I believe you enough in your hearts after all the fires into which Go you : Surely tliere is filth enough in the best of God's pe all this, it may be a great deal more trouble then they lu with. We fancy it a brave life to live at ease ; and if w( longer respites and intervals of trial than usual, we are
We shall never be moved, as David did, Psalm xxx. 6. die in our nest, as it is Job xxix. 18. Our hard and di are over ; but woe to us if God should give us the de hearts in this. See what the temper of those men's spii meet with no changes, Psal. Iv. 19. " Because they have i
" therefore they fear not God." O it is better to be pres< in brine, than to rot in honey !
Infer. 3. Thirdly, Let none boast in a carnal conjidence c strength and stabiUly. You are in a state of trial, Hii hath kept you upright in all your trials; bless God, but you are but feathers in the wind of temptation. If God k yourselves. Peter told Christ, (and doubtless he spoke nc he honestly meant) " Though all men forsake thee, yet ^ And you know what he did when the hour of his trial cai xxvi. 85. Angels left to themselves have fallen : It is I an humble worm than a proud angel.
Ah ! how many Pendletons will this professing age sh God bring us to the fiery trial ? " Let him that thinks
take heed lest he fall." You have not yet resisted i striving against sin. None stand upon firmer ground thar see nothing in themselves to stand upon ; he that leans uj arm usually benumbs it, and makes it useless.
Infer. 4. Fourthly^ Doth God kindle so many fires in set his furnaces in Jerusalem, to discover and separate the the gold .'* How contrary are those men to God that alio' prize the dross of hypocrisy which God hates, and stick r the holy God a patronizer and countenancer of it in the lives of men ?
It is amazing to read what popish pens have impuden about this matter : * Sylvester puts the question. Whet sin tn mnkp a fnlep show of sanrtitv ? And answers it tlui
A SERIOUS EXHORTATION TO SELF-EXAMIXATION.
entitles it, De sancta ejtis hypocrisi : i. e. Of the holy hypocris that saint ; reckoning it among his commendations, that he had art of dissembling. And yet, one peg higher, a religious pe
(saith * another) that feigns himself to have more holiness thai hath, that others may be edified, sins not, but rather merits.
Blush, O heavens ! that ever such factors for hell should < and vend such ware as this in the public market, and invite the v> to hypocrisy, as that which makes for the glory of God, the i cation of men, and a work meritorious in the hypocrite him
This is the doctrine of devils indeed !
Infer. 5. Fifthly^ If it be so that all grace must come to the and be tried as gold in the fire, even in this world ; how are all concerned to lay a solid foundation at first, and thoroughly delibi the terms upon which they close with Christ, and engage in the fession of his name .'* " Which of you, (saith Christ) intendin *' build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cc Luke xiv. 28. If some men had sat down at first, and ponderec conditions and terms of Christ, they had not sat down now dis raged, and tired in the way. The apostle Paul went to wor another rate ; he accounted all but dung and dross for Christ, J iii. 8. and was of the same mind when the actual trial came ; for he tells us, " He counted not his life dear unto him," Acts xx And the apostle Peter admonishes believers " not to think it str " concerning the fiery trial which was to try them," 1 Pet. iv q. d. Let none of these things be surprisals to you ; you are toh fore-hand what ye must trust to ; every Christian must be a : tyr, at least in the disposition and resolution of his heart.
O that men would balance the advantages and disadvantag religion, and thoroughly ponder the matter in their deepest thoug To the test you must come ; the rain will fall, and the storm upon your buildings ; look carefully therefore to the foundati(
Infer. 6. Sixthly^ and lastly. Learn from this point the unavoid: ness of scandals and offences in the way of religion ; for if thei a necessity of trial, there is also a necessity of scandal. " It must n
" be that offences come," Luke xvii. ]. Why must it needs The reason is evident ; all must come to the trial, and all an able to bear it. Our Lord tells us, Matth. xxiv. 8, 9, 10. of a of great straits and perplexity coming : " And then (saith he)
" many be offended." The day of trial is the day of scandal : these offences some are put a searching themselves, and some 1 censuring all others ; but the holy God brings about his end
592 A SEUIOUS EXHORTATION TO SELF-EXAMINATIOl search your hearts, commune with your reins, nothing moi you in all the world than this doth. O that you would your closets, and oftener upon your knees ! O that you a into the Bible, then into your hearts, and then to God, si
David, " Search me, O God, and know ray heart ; pro
try my reins, and see if there be any way of iniquity in ver did religion thrive in the world smce men's heads ha over-heated with notions and controversies, and their lies sibly cooled in their closetwork. I have elsewhere * mc pressed this duty upon the professors of this generation, i shall refer the reader for the present, to see the necessity ; tance of this work.
Here I shall only urge the duty of self-trial by som motives and awakening considerations.
Motive 1. And the first shall be the exceeding difficu work : difficulty in some cases may be a discouragement ; the matter is of absolute necessity, as it is here, nothinc more to diligence ; " Strive (saith our Lord) to enter in a " gate, for many will seek to enter in, and shall not be al xiii. 24. A double difficulty is found attending this wc trial : Difficulty in bringing the heart to it ; and difliculty i and successful management of it. Who finds it not hard t his heart to such work as this ? Nature declines it, flesh relish it not : It is one of the great severities in religioi easy thing to bring a man and his own heart together.
It is in this case as in the study of Geography ; we are r sitive to know, and delighted when we discover the raritiei countries, and strahge things in the remote parts of the \ those of our own native country. I fear there be many pi religion that can spend day after day in hearing, and lov( puting fruitless controversies, that never spend one day ir what influence all those sermons they have heard have their hearts, or in rightly stating and determining that gr very, in whose right and possession their souls are, and they shall go as soon as death hath divided them from th bodies ; yea, I doubt, many sinful hours are spent in pryi porting, and censuring the failings of others, and not one fully employed in judging their own hearts before the I men had rather be about any work than this ; there is i in it to the flesh.