x8 The Dobírine, Duty aná2ffefulneßofAffurance. SECT. I. 2. Secondly, Another internalcaufe is felf -love ; that is, the Ivy which cleaveth foclofe untous, till it path devoured our fubfeance ; by this mens we flatter our felves, making every thing tobe good within us, and to be God, whereas it'saltogether fleflily and carnal. The wife-man obferveth it , That every mans Wayes areclean in his own eyes, but Godpóndereth the heart. ,uifquisfee xcufat ffbi, accufat Dea, Whofoever doth excufeandacquit himfelfto himfelf, Both accule himfelfto God. Thiswas alfo the epidemical difeafe of the Jews, what Pro. phet could perfwade them their hearts were not rightwith God ? Who could bring them out óf love with themfelves? Art thou therefore fully perfwaded. of thygood efeate ? Doft thou bleffe God for thy good heart and affections ? Whence is the ground of this ? Is it not from felfflattery and a carnal love to thy fell? of thou were diligent and obferving ofthy fèlf, this would befound indeed .thereal groundof all thy carnal confidence.; Whereas a godly Affurancearifeth froman utter difplicency, and loathingof our felves. I I. A fecond vafl Difference is, From the MotivesandGrounds. The godly Affu- Ih themotives rance is from and through the wordof God ; That which is the means of our and grounds. Regeneration, is alto of our Affurance, That We through the Scriptures might havecomfort, faith the Apofile, a Corr. whereas a vain ptefumption comes from bale andunworthy motives, As r' 1. A sneer natural! light and judgement about the ffoste of ,Regeneration and Grace; but (asyou heard) Affurance comes by the light of the Spiritfhining in Gods word, and the works of Grace inour hearts can be no more dilcerned by a natural light, thenthe fenfitivepart can apprehend the adings and workings ofreafoü, orthenatural faculty of theWill have power todo that which is fu, pernaturallygood. We feea clear inflame in Nicodemus, how blockifh was he about the work of Regeneration ? Now this is the Motive of mole mens Affu- rance, cheic grofs miflake about theworkof Grace whatit is. Donot the molt ofmen think this Godlinefs confiflent with frequent andconfiant Pradices ofIm- pietiesand daily neglect of holy Duties? Howmany fay, They have a goodheart, notwichfianding their bad tongues and lives ? But if they arenot fo groffe as to bedeluded herein Do not many take a fair, civil and moral - Converfation, void of Randal, tobe theScripture-godlinefs, and becaufe they are fo, though they have no more, are therefore perfwaded of their fandified condition? Nay, a mans mifeake mayyet gofarte higher, viz. when they take. thofe workingsof Gods Spirit which arebut for a feafon, or are in force imperfect and fhort De- grees, being,without root in the foul for the peculiar Paving work of Grace, which is in the truly regeneratedonly. Nowhoweafie is it CO be deceived one of thefe wayes, and with the foolifh Virgins Match. as. to die confidently, and boldlygo to meet the Bridegroom, when yet theywant oil ?' See therefore if theMotive of thy Affurancebe not an abfolutemifiake about the nature offan- difyingGrace.. 2. 2. The Motive ofagodly Affurance it soot from aso) worth, Merit or Perfcetion We deem inourfelves,' but only from the Truth and Sincerity ofGrace, With many defeat s that areWaJhed away by Chri.'ïs blood. Hence Paul, Though he ksìemnothing by himfelf, yet he War not thereby juflified. Therefore the Popifh defeription of their Hope makingit CO arife partly from the merits of Chrife, and partly from - their own merits, is bold Prefumption. Wedo not defend luch an Affurance as !hall arife from a full and peeled Obedienceunto GodsLaw; (nay we have an Affurance, Inch an Obedience cannot be in this life) but only a certain perfwa- flon of the uprightnefleof our hearts in thewaves of God. Now the Popifh Arguments, they militate againft Affurance chiefly upon this ground,. Becaufe none can fay, he bath a clean heart , arid that in many things We offend. Thefe places argueindeed flrongly againft aperfedion in this life, but not againfla gra- cious Affurance. - 3. 3. AcarnalPrefumption arifeth many timesfrom theoutward comforts and plenty they
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