Oaeff. eflnf. Difcovcry of him that bath but arempora- rie Faith. z. 3. 4 Ephefans,Chap. Z., V ER. $. penitentiary, yea and to firetch forth his hands to the poor in gifts eleemofinary: yea, and if you mark it, fo will fome Drunkard too, he will upon his Ale-bench play the Divine, and with a counterfeit fobriety praifeGod; and as for the poor, if the toy take him in the head, he will disburfe, andgive him all that he hath in his purfe, and yet neither holy nor charitable. Even fo this foul, having once tatted in Chrifis Wine- cellar, of that comfortableNectar which theSaints of God drink of, viz. the blood of Chrift ; he may for a time look with a cheerful' hue, and frefh countenance, walk and talk much like a Chriflian, but in truth nothing leffe , but a faithleffe wretch , and unconfcionable temporizer. But it will be then here demanded, how this man may be known and difcerned from him, that hach indeed a true, juftifying, and faving Faith. I anfwer, it is as hard for a man to know him, as it is to difcern him that hath a Vizzard before his face, he is fo clofe vailed and masked.with the Phew of holineffe, that a man may pry into the very face of him, and yet never the nearer, until' he difcover himfelf by force flinching revolt, and apparent Apoftafie. ludo you knowwent a long time unkenned in regard of the Apotties, albeit very expert and well difcerning men ; he was well accounted of, put in trust, and carried the bag,untill our Lord Chrift Jefus, by the power of his tran- (rendent Godhead did difcover and decal him. But yet, that we may not altogether be deceived, let us trythe fpi- rits, whether they be of God or not, fo far forth as we are men, and therefore can but probably conjebture: howfoever in regardof our felves, we may grant either by way of affirming or denying in our own confciences. Let us well obferve, and we (hall finde, that the man that hath this temporary Faitb,hath (as I have faid) but agene- rall knowledge. He knows Chrift but by hear-fay , or as it were by the face, he hath no inward familiarity and communion with him. And this knowledge is wrought in him , partly by the Spirit opening theeye of his minde, as the Oculift that brings a man to a confuted ken- ningof the light, or rathera mill : partly allo by the often hearing of the Word, conferring, reading, and the like. Secondly, his heart is feldom ornever touched with the (harp point of his fins. And therefore you (hall fee commonly, that this man will be full of fcurrilotis and idle talk, ready upon all occafrons to lavifh into vanity. Thirdly, his conference will be cold and careletfe, and for the molt part about unneceffary and curious Arguments : As whether we (hall know one another in heaven or not , whether hell be in the ayr, in the earth, or where it is, &c. all tending to controverfie, and inter vanity. You (hall fee, that this perfon, howfoever he feem to be reformed in himfelf, yet he will utterly refuteto reform his family. This
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