.To 6 II. Tíl, Iv. V. VI. T. QueJfions, and Cafes ofCon. èjam Chap, I ¡ attained by the publick minifiry. If we would net quench the fpirit , we muff not deipife prophefie , i Thef.5 I9i2o. Ifwe would not fall we mutt be built upon the foundation of theProphets, and Apoffles : we muff attend upon read- ily, meditation, and conference, which notably begets, and confirms fotindnefs of}udgement : and by Prayer, whichobtains the Spirit, called the Spirit of jud; merit, Ifa. 4.4. Secondly, Sound perfwafion of thetruth thouprofeffett, and that by getting experience of it in thy heart : Ifa man once tails the fweetneffe of Chili}, and his merits, he will never be a Papill in the point of me.it, but abhor his own works as drofsand dungy : get experience cfGods love in Chrif}, and it will be lron>er then death, &c. Cant.8.6i7. Thirdly , found atle&ions and love to the truth : ef}eeme it as a Pearl worth felling all CO buy it : but, if thou lovof} the world , or any thing better then the tuth, with Dma thou wilt forfake it : So, zTheffal.z.so,ii. Pou-thly, found confcience , to which is required, t. Sinceriry. z. Ten- derneffe. ) I . S+ncerity, when a man is inwardly a true NathanaeI , without guile. 2. Tendern::f;whereby wefear'anddi(hkeall fin, the leaf} , the clofea, the dearell bofome ltn ; whereas an evil confcience makes fhipr rack of the faith , i Tìit. i 19. Fifthly, found cone: Cation. Frúitfulneffe inour life fattens our fairh,where- as a barren lifebath little Liability. We muff hear the word and do it , if we will be built upon the rock , ç7vtatth.7. 24. God ufeth to recompenfe practice ofgracewith encreafe of grace. Hence 7ohn 57. 7. If ye do th,fe thins ye fhall know my dolirine, and l falm 15, tilt. He that doth thole things fha/lnever fall.' The Talent ufed increafcth , like the meal in the barrel, i Kir,gs 17. 16. Sixthly, found fellowthip in the communion of Saints : In receiving , and communicating Chriffian admonition , reprehenfion, counfel, comfort , &c. Hereby we f}irre up thegift ofGod inour felves and others y Hence , r Thef. 5. 15. Heb. 12. r 2. Quell. what motions may encourage us to the ufeof thefe means ? Anfw. Fitt}, confider how heretics and errours encreafe daily in all places , amongfi' all degrees, and our trial maybe at hand, we.knownot how Coon. Secondly, this decay , and withering is fatal to reprobates ,and befals them onely, but cannot betide Gods Elet. , (Mouth. 24. 24. the Ele& cannot be deceived. Thirdly, experience tells us that we may fay of fome great Profeffors, as it's faid of the fig-tree, Matth. 21. zo. How foone are they withered ? which is a fhrewd argument that thefentence is out againf} them : Never fruit grow on thee any more, ver. i9. See Dr. Tailor, on theParable of the Sower. Qudf}. Seeing many who have been once zealots for Gods way,afterwards decline it totally,what is it tofer rightll forthat ourfirfi owningof Chriff, and to lay afore foundation toprevent A,poltacy ? Anf.Firf},then are our beginnings hopeful when the SpiritofGod in the Mi- niary ofthe Word, or other meansof grace did work upon us; when it was not meere education under good governours,nor the acquaintance, and company which we had with thofe that fear God, but an inward, experimental work of graceupon our hearts. We read, z Chron.24.z2. of `7oafh, who in his latter days did mort wickedly degenerate, when yetinhis former time hehad been very forward in repairing the Temple , and had (hewed more zeal for Gods glory then the Priet}s did: But what was the ground ? 3ehoiadah the High Priefl had a great hand over him, he
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