I 70 Sermoiz 3. There is only one word further I would fpeak toth ì$ purpofe : Chriffians will be ready to think, that all the difficulty lies here, even in being fingle and fincere ; and indeed it doth fo, for the want of it marrs peace, i and the having of t gives great grcund of peace : I fhall give you, therefore, three qualifications, whereby ye may try your fincerity. ft, Confider and try what frame of heart ye are in ; For, if ye be not in a good frame of heart, it can hardly be Paid, that fincerity fways you There would therefore much tendernefs be fiudied, and to have a deep impreffion of the majefly of God, of the awe and dread of him, and of his word, on our fpi- rits. idly, Look what weight challenges for bygone negle &s, or mifperformances of duties, or unfiraight- nefs in any of them, have with you : For fincerity is ne- ver readily more evident, than when we have difiinc reffe &ions upon our ways, and the fuvtable fence of force bygone fin ; in that cafe, we will not he in fuch hazard to give way to, or to comply with, what may breed a chal- lenge afterward. ;dly, Try it by what Confcience ye make of prefent known and clear duties ; 'tis a good token that perlons are fincere, when there is no clear duty, but they make Confcience of it, labouring to be univerfäl and equal in the pra &ice of all known duties, and when they dare not hazard on any thing without clearnefc : But, when a perfon is clearly convinced that fuch a thing is fin, and continues frill in the pra &ice of it and that fuch a thing is duty, and continues in the ne- gle& of it, and yet thinks that he is fwayed by fincerity, fuch a one niufi needs be deluded, fence, in fuch a cafe, no reafon can be given for it. I am bold here to fay, That in the great day there fhall never man nor woman be found to have a teftimony from their Confcience of fince- rity, who have not aimed and endeavoured to be univer- faly fincere. The 4th Help, is, That Chriflians would endeavour to be in a very tender frame, in the neareft communion with God, and in the greatefi meafure of heart - melting, and of pouring it out before God, that may be win at Tho' I do not fay, that it is impoffible for Chrifti- ans to miftake even in fuch a frame But my meaning 4s, that
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