280 DIRECTIONS FOR GETTING AND KEEPING and to deny our credit, rather than forsake Christ or our duty. To obey Christ in doing what he commandeth us, though it would hazard orr certainly lose our wealth, friends, liberty, and life itself ; forsaking all rather than to forsake him ; to give to the poor, and other good uses, and that liberally, according to, our. abilities. To deny the flesh all forbidden pleasures, and make not provisions to satisfy its lusts, but tocrucify the flesh, with theaffections and lusts, thereof; and in this combat to holdon to the end, and to overcome. These are the laws of Christ, which you.must,know, before you can determine whether you are indeed unfeignedlywilling to obey them. Put therefore these further 'questions to yourself, for 'the trial of your willingness to be ruled-by Christ according to his laws. III. Are you heartily willing to live in the performanceof those holy and spiritual duties ofheart and life, which God bath absolute- ly commanded you ? And are you heartily sorry that you perform them no better ? With no more. cheerfulness,, delight, success, and constancy? IV. Are you so thoroughly convinced of the worth of' everlast- ing happiness, and the intolerableness of everlasting misery, and the truth of both; andof the sovereignty of. God the Father, and Christ the Redeemer, and your many engagements to him ; and of the necessity and good of obeying,and the evil of sinning, that you are truly willing, that is, 'have a -settled resolution to cleave to Christ, and obey him in the dearest; most disgraceful, painful, haz- ardous, flesh-displeasing duties ; even though it should cost you the loss of all your worldly enjoyments, and your life? V. Doth this willingness or resolution already so far prevail in your heart and life, against 'all the interest and temptations of the world, the devil,and your flesh, that you do ordinarily practice the most strict and holy, the most self-denying, costly, and hazardous duties that you know God requireth of you, and do heartily strive against all known sin, and overcome all gross sins ; and when you fall under any prevailing temptation, do rise again by re- pentance, 'and begging pardon of God, through the blood of Christ, do resolve to watch and resist more, carefully for the time to come ?, In these five marks is expressed the gospel-description of a true Christian. Having laiddown these;marks, I mist needs add a few words for the explaining of some things in them, lest you mistake the mean- ing, and so lose the benefit of them. I. Observe that it is your willingness, which is the very point to be tried. And therefore, 1. Judge not -by your bare knowledge. 2. Judge not by the stirring or passionate workings of your affec- tions.' I pray you forget not this rule in any of your self-exannn-
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