Spiritual Perfection. 301 Anger without any mixture of Favour, and in the approaches to Eternity be in diftra&ing Doubts about his FutureState, and an anxious Expectation of an uncer- tain Sentence. 'Tisour Interefl, as well as Duty, to f}rive to excel inHoliners. I {hall now apply this Doctrine ; z. By inquiring whether we are proceeding to Perfe&ion. 2. Propound DireEtions how we fhould follow it. Y. I {hall lay down force Rules where- by we may difcern, whether we are pro- ceeding to Perfection. 'Tis requifite to premife, there may be an eafie miftake in the Judgment, about the truth and ftrength of Grace in Mens Souls. In- deed, there are clear and plain Rules in Scripture to judge of our Spiritual State, but the dark and crookedHearts of Men mifapply them. Carnal Men are apt to miftake Prefamption for Faith, and think the bolder they are in prefuming with- out a Promife, the ftrortter they are in believing. They miftake a fruitlefs for- row for Sin to be Repentance. They fin and repent; and after Repentance they fin ; and walking in a circle of Repent - ings and Relapfnos, take not one ftep towards Heaven. But real Saints are often complaining of their want of Grace, and
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