/ chap.4 SeEt.'d . .s>eif4rpat. . Proceed we now to put the qudiion to our fdvcs, but be furc to flare it ri;;ht; .let it ~or be, whethe,- there be any good inw at all? for fo we fhall erre ?n the one han ~ ; nor yet whether we have _(t"h, or fi<Ch a degree a•d mcafitre 1[ grace! for fo we fh~ll erre on rhe other hand; but, whctmr (accord ing to the forcmcntwned Scnptmc)j~tciJ, or fucb a favjng grace be in tu, Oi' not ? As for Example 1 • 0 my foul, haft thou rcfpcctto, and obfervativn of all God>Commandments? doll thou keep the lait in truth and finccmy, though not in graduall perfectl\ln? doll: thou know God in part, and love God in part, by a finccrcinchoatc obc,di· nee, though · notto fuch a full degree as Chnll d1d, or as the :;amts do m heaven? coil: thou keep the commandments in an Evangelical fenfc (i.c ) doll: thou endeavour to keep them?&, wherein thou fai!cll doll: thou acknowledge thy failings, and rely upon Chrill: for pardon, ~s knowing'rhat thy 1:ighreoufnefs_ confifls more in the remiflion of what is i.m– perfecr than in domo of what IS perfect? IS thy umverfal obed1ence mtcrnal and fpmtnal a~ well as cx!:,rnal? is thy deligiJt in the lmrtf God in the inner man? it may R om 7 2l be i~ rhy life there is no groffe fin againft God, no injulhcc or opprrflion to men,but art thou not dellitute of the Spirit, and vo1d of all fupernatural !tfc? IS thy obedicn~e equal to the duties of both tables: for notreligion to God, if there be unconfcionable dealing towards men ; nor duty to men, 1f there be negltgence m the re!tgtous ferv1ce to God, is finccre, and univerial obedience? Dofl thou make confcicnce of particular duties of relation, as well as of generals? Or on the contrary, hall thou nor rcfpccr to the Commat:dmcnts only in fome things, as Ahab, and Herod, who did many things? is not thy obedience only external? _doll: thou not rdl: wholl~ upon the outward obedience of the law, (as the Phanfces d>d) wh >ld: thy heart il:tll rcmams as a den of theevifh lulls? doll: thou not pretend much devotion in matters of God, bm fhcw~ll noconfci«nce, or equity in matters of man? or doll: thou not love a civil, jufl, and nghteous man W>lh all thy heart, bur thou canll not ab,de a forward rel1g>ous man? art thou not carclcffe of ftrict keeping of the Sabbath ; of diligent, and powerful family-dnties, or of the other duties of relation? 2. 0 my foul, haft thou fincerity, and uprightnefs of heart? and becaufc the heart of" man is naturally deceitful above all things, and there is no truth, no integrity in it, Jttttr. 7· 9 till God hath changed it? is there a full and powerful change of the whole man by the grace of God? doll: thou any good duty upon this account, bccaufe God Commands it? not bccaufe this will agree with thy cr.ds, or ll:and with thy lull:s, but becaufc God hath required it? are the motives and ends of all thy actions pure and heavenly, .and fuch as Gods Word cloth require? art thou diligent, and confcicncious in internal, or fecret Dmirs, to perform them; and in fpiritual or heart-fins, and fccrct lull:s, to avoid them ? doll: thoufrve God in fpirit ? doll: thou eye God whether in private or publikc? doll: thou fer thy felfzcaloufly :rgainll: thofc fins that thou art moll inclined unto? doll: thou hate fins moll i·n thy felf, and in thofc that rtrt ncarcflunio thee, as a man that hateth a toad moll: in his own bofom ? dolt thou take thofe waycs, and ufe thofe means only tha't God hath appointed for the obtaining of lawful ends? hall thou refpcet to all Gods Commandments. But yet in that due order as God commandeth. as to the duties of the firft table, before the fecond; to the commands of greater dutie; above rhofe o'fleffe duties? or if in all thefe particulars thou fin:!eft not fuch an· upnghtncf;, as hath no deceit, or falfehood, or earn~! rcfpccr at all joyncd with it (for as all other graces are but m part, fo are we fincere and upright in part) yet art thou· humbled under :hy falf~hoods, and hypocrifies, and fpiritual guiles? and doll: thou" trufl only mChrtlt? ana doll: thou cry as Davtd d1d for tmth in the imvard parts t -Or un the contrary, _is not thy heart full of guile, & voicl of all grace.' art thou not a ftrangcr to regcne_rarwn, or the new b1rth ? and if at any rime thou obeyeft ariy of Gods commonds, IS 1t not becaufe thofc actions may cm1fitt with fomc carml ends? doll: rho~ not pray, and fafi, and give alms, as the Pharifecs did, to be on a ths:arrc, an_d admtrcd by others applaufe? doll: thou obferve the frame of thy heart in thofe ~hmgs whrch none but God knows? or rather do not fecrcfic, or privacy many times mttce thee to fin? hall: thou :tot fomc Dalilah, fome wolf or other in thy breft, to whofe fhe.af (as 1twere) all other fins mufl make their fheavcs to bow, and yet thou ~rt mfcnfiblc of thmc own finfulnefs? doll: thou not endeavour by unlawft!l, or un– ~~arrabntable wayes to get thme own·ends? -~rt thou not careful to tythe mint and cummm.' ut altogether neglefJ rzghtewfnefs. and JUdgmerrrt. . , :5'· 0 my foul,doft thou oppofc agaihft,and abll:ain from fin? and is this oppofition and'. Q.. :ib!linence~ ..
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