1A1TÚAE+ PEACE AND COMFORT. 353 is not done sincerely and savingly, unless there be an actual ar:d habitual resolution to obey God and the ,Redeemer,before allcrea- tures, and against all temptations that would draw us from him. To obey Christ a little and the flesh more, is no true obedience : if the flesh can do more with us to draw us to sin, than faith and obedience do to keep us from sin, ordinarily, this is no true faith or obedience. If Christ have not the sovereignty in the soul, and his interestbe not the most predominant and potent, we are no true believers. Now, it is plain, that the interest of the. world and flesh doth actually prevail, when a man is actually committing a known sin, and omitting a known duty ; and then it is certain that habits are knownbut by the acts. And therefore it must needs be that the soul that most sinneth, must needs be most in doubt whether the interest of Christ or the flesh be predominant, and so whether his obedience be true or no ; and so whether he did sin- cerely take Christ for his Sovereign; and that is whether he be a true believer ; for when a man is inquiring into the state of his soul, whether he do subject himself to Christ, as his only Sovereign, and whether theauthority and love of Christ will do more with him than the temptations of the world, flesh and devil, he bath no way . to be resolved but by feeling the pulseof his own will. And ifhe say, 'I am willing to obey Christ before the flesh,' and yet do actually live in an obedience to the flesh before Christ, he is de- ceived in his own will ; for this is na saving willingness. A wick- ed man may have some will to obey Christ principally ; but having more will to the contrary, viz. to please the flesh before Christ, therefore he is wicked still; so that you see in our self-examination, the business is for the most part finally resolved into our sincere actual obedience. For thus we proceed ; we first.find, He that believeth and laveth Christ sincerely, shall be saved. Then we proceed, He that believeth sincerely taketh Christ for his Sove- reign. Then, He that truly taketh Christ for his Sovereign, doth truly resolve to obey him and his laws, before the world, flesh, or devil. Then, He that truly resolveth thus to obey Christ before all, cloth sincerely perform his resolution, and doth so obey him. For that is no true resolution ordinarily, that never comes to per- formance. And here we are cast unavoidably to try whether we do perform our resolutions by actual obedience, before we can sit down with settled peace; much more before we get assurance. Now, those that are diligent and careful in obeying, and have great- est conquest over their corruptions', and do most seldom yield to temptations, but do most notably and frequently conquer them, these have the clearest discovery of the performance of their reso- lutions byobedience, and consequently the fullest assurance : but they that are oftenest overcome by temptations, and yield most to VOL. s. 45
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