338 DIRECTIONS.FOR GETTING AND KEEPING est winds, the greatest flames, which will force an observance by their greatness and effects. 4. Consider also that it is more pleas- Mg to God to see his people study him in his will directly, than to spend the first and, chiefest of their studies about the attaining of comforts to themselves. 5. And it is the nature of grace to tend first and chiefly toward God ; and but secondarily to be the evi- dence of our own happiness. We have faith given us principally that we might believe, and live by it in daily applications ofChrist: we have repentance, that it might break us off from sin, and bring us back to God; we have love, that we might love God and our Redeemer, his saints, and laws, and ways; we have zeal, that we might be quickened in all our holy duties ; and we have obedience, to keep us in the way of duty. The first thing we have to do with these graces, is to use them for those holy ends which their nature Both express ; and then the discerning of them that we may have assurance, followeth after this both in time and dignity. 6. And it is a matter of far greater concernment to ourselves to seek after the obtainingofChrist and grace, than after the certain knowledge that we have them. You may be saved though you never get as- surance here, but you cannot be saved without Christ and grace. God hath not made assurance the condition of your salvation. It tends indeed exceedingly toyour comfort, and a precious mercy it is ; but your, safety lieth not on it. It is better to go sorrowful and doubting to heaven, than comfortably to hell. First, therefore, ask what is the condition of salvation aná' the way to it, and then look that you do your best to perform it, and to go that way, and then try your performance in its season. 7. Besides, as it is a work of far greater moment, so also of quicker dispatch, to believe and love Christ .truly, than to get assurance that you do truly believe and love him. You may believe immediately, (by the help of God's grace) but getting assurance of it may be the work of a great part of your life. Iret me therefore entreat this one thing of you, that when you feel the want of any grace, you would not presently bend all your thoughts upon the inquiry, whether it be true or no ; but rather say to yourself, ' I see trying is a great and difficult, a long and tedious work : I may be this many years about it, and possibly be unresolved still. If I should conclude that I have no grace, I may be mistaken ; and so I may ifI think that I have it. 'I may inquire of friends and ministers long, andyet be left in doubt; it is therefore my surest wayto seek presently to obtain it, if I have itnot, and to increase it if I have it. And I.amcertain none ofthat labor will be lost ; to get more is the way tó know I have it.' But perhaps you will say, ` How should I get more grace? That is a business of greater difficulty than so.' I answer, Under-
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