162 t,¡ÿiteske xfavers`. a merciful anfwer to your prayer, or a jasdgement, unlefs you try it by faith according to the promife. I have nothingnow to fay of the cafe of miracles, but this : If Godpromife a miracle, you may be- lieve it becaufe it is promifed: If he perform it without a promife ,' then either you mutt not be- lieve it till it is done, dr elfe your faith muf}t be a miracle alto ; And then the faith it felf is its own j uf}ification. But miracles are now fo rare, that all fober Chriflians.will take heed how they exped them,or over- haf}ily believe them ; and efpecially how they take their own belief for a mi- racle. All the talk that force men- makeof a par- ticular faith, may be tried by. what I have here Laid. To conclude, the warning which I give you in this cafe, is from long and fad experience. I have known too many very hone(+ hearted Chriflians, efpecially melancholty perfons and women, who have been in great doubt about the opinions of the Millenaries, the Separatif}s, the Anahaptifl:, the Seekers, and fuch l,ke,and after earnest pray- er to God, they have been flrongly refolved for the wayof tour, and confident by the ftrong im. preí ion , that it was the fpirits anfwer totheir prayers, and thereupon theyhave fet them into a courfe of fin. If you fay, How know you that they were miffaken ? I will tell you how. Firfl, Be- caufe they have been refolved contrary to the word of God. And I know, that Gods fpirit did fir(} make a (landing Rule , to try all after-im- pulfesby ; And what ever im pulfe is contrary to that Rule, is contrary to Gods fpirit. The Law and the teftimony are now Pealed, and ail fpirits to
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