A choiceBedof Spices. or evidences as are competent only to thole that are Itrong men in Chrift, and that are grown to a high pitch of grace, of holinefs, of communion with God, of fpiritual enjoy- meirs, and heavenly attainments, and Tweet and bleffed la- viIhments of foul ; and by this means they come to conclude against the works of the bleffed fpirit in them ' and to per- plex and difquiet their own fouls with needlefs fears, doubts and jealoufies ; others on the other hand, are apt to judge of themfelves, and to try themfelves, by fuch things, rules or evidences that are too fhort (and will certainly leave them ihort of heaven) as a fair civil deportment among all forts and yanks of men, a good nature, paying every man their dae, charity to the poor, a good name or fame amon9. men (yea, happily among goodanen) outward exercifes of Reli- alonl as hearing, praying, reading, failing, or that they are good negative Chriftians, that is to fay, that they are no drunkards, fwearers , lyars, adulterers, extortionecs, op- preffors ' Sabbath- breakers, perfecutors, &c. Thus far Part attained before his converfion, but if he had gone, no fur- ther, he had been a loft man for ever and by.this means they flatter themfelves into mifery, and are fill a dreaming of going to heaven, till they drop into hell, and awake with everlafting flames about their ears : And oh, that all that preach or print, read or write, would ferioufly lay this to heart., Come, in defcribing the mate of a Chriflian, Ihew rather what of right it fhould be, than 'what indeed it is ; they iheW what Chrifians ought to be, rather than what they find themfelves to be, and fo they become a double edged fword to many Chriftians. But, Mat. 2g. Luke 18 9,10, I I, 12. 7l. hia. I. 2131435. 6.3. Ira. 33, 14, The fourth - Maximor Confideration. rOurthly, confider Where there is any one grace in U truth, there is every grace in truth, though every grace cannot be Peen. Look,as a man may certainly know a wicked man
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