Serm. i 2. to dijcern;their Spiritual condition? thou art willing to part with any thing that might hinder theefrom ob- taining of ir, and do any duty prefcribed by God,though difpleafing to thy fleth, and ufe them as means for the attainingof fo excellent an end ? would' thou have him whatever it coil thee ? canfl thou not be without him what ever thou be without? then pals fentence for thy felf, concluding thy condition to be happy. This is the nearefl way to find out thy condition, not (land wrang- ling with thy felf,for thy former neglects, any further than for thy hu- miliation ; and do not fo much enquire what thóu haft not formerly done,as what now thou art really willing to do: Befdes, this folemn, fet examination, thou (halt finde it very pro- fitable co get and keep a fight of thy fpiritual condition , to call thy felt to an account every night before thou fleep , where thou haft been that day, what thou haft done, what company thou hall been in, what fin thou haft committed, what duty thou hall omitted , and mourn if thou haft fallen, and return thy hearty thanks to God , if thou haft walked carefully and circumfpeály that day; this counCel a Noble Heathen did give, to call our felves CO an account before we fleep. 3. Direîiion. 3. That thy affiance may be yet more compleat and full , and thy comfort arifing from the fame more enlarged ; Fall down at the Throne of Grace, and beg earne¡lly, and pray importunately for the witnefs of the Spirit of God. For as it is the Spirit that worketh Grace in us , fo it is the Spirit that mull difcover the truth of that Grace to us, i Cor. 2.1 2. Now we have received not the Spirit of the World , but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the t Jiilgs that are freely given to us of God. Rom. 8. i6. The Spirit it felf beareth witnefs with our Spirit , that we are the childrenof God. But beware thou take not Satanical delufions for the fpirits perfwafion, or the conceit of thy own Brain, for the wit - nefs of the Spirit. The Spirit never witneffeth any thing to any man contrary to what is revealed in the Word, for he is a Spirit of Truth, and never fpeaks contradictions ; therefore if any man thini;eth that he bath the witnefs of the Spiric,teflifying that he is a child of God, anti yet is not holy, humble, penitent, he is deceived ; but if thou hail the Graces of the Spirit, and the Spirit witneffeth fo much unto thy Con - fcience, and with thy Confcience. i. It inflameth thy heart with love toGod and Chrif+ 2. It raifeth more hatred in thee to thy fin. 3 .Thou finds(+ a mighty flrength and power in it , ingaging thy foul to walk humbly, holily with thy God. 4. A wonderful cogency in, it to be ze- Q q 2 í6ús 305
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=