292 The twelfth Sign PART III, Fromwhat has been faid it is manifeft, that chriftian Practice or a holy Life is a great anddinguiJhing Sign of true and favingGrace. But I may go further, and affert, that it is the chiefof all the Signs of Grace, both as an Evidence of the Sincerity of Profeffors unto o- thers, and alto to their own Confciences. But then it is neceílàry that this be rightly taken, and that it be well underftood and obferved, in what Senfe and Manner chriftian Pra &ice is the greats Sign of Grace. Therefore, to fet this Matter in a clearLight, I will endeavour particularly and diftin&ly to prove, that chriftian Practice is the principal Sign by which Chriftians are to judge, both of their own and othersSincerity ofGodlinefs ; withal ob- ferving fomeThings that are needful to be particularly noted, in order to a right underftanding of this Matter. x. I fhall confider chriftian Pra&ice and an holy Life, as a Manifef- tation and Sign of the Sincerity of a profefiing Chriftian, to the Eye of his Neighbours and Brethren. And that this is the chief Sign of Grace in this Refpe&, is very evi- dent from the Word of God. Chrift, who knew beft how to give us Rules to judge of others, has repeated it and inculcated it, that we fhould know them by their Fruits ; Matth. 7. 16. Ye Jhall know them by their Fruits. And then after arguing the Point, and giving clear Reafons why it muff needs be, that Men's Fruits muff be the chief Evidence of what Sort they are, in the following Verfes, he « for damned, great, vile Sinners : Good Lord, faith the Soul, " what a fweet Miniftry, Word, God and Gofpel is this ! and cc there refts. This was the Frame of the Stony-Ground ; " which heard the Word, and received it with Joy, and for a cc Time believed. And this is the Cafe of Thoufands, that are " much affected with the Promife and Mercy of Chrift, and cc hang upon free Grace for a Time : But as 'tis with fweet " Smells in a Room, they continue not long ; or as Flowers, Fc they grow old and withered, and then fall. In Time of 4c Temptation, Luft, and World, and Sloth is more fweet than ' Chrift, and all his Gofpel is." Shepard's Parable, Part II. cc p. 168. " Never any carnal Heart, but fome Root of Bitternefs did grow ". up at haft in this Soil." Shepard's Parable, Part I. p. 195. cc We fhall fee in Experience : Take the heft Profeffors living ; cc tho' they may come, as they and others judged, to the Lord, t' and follow the Lord ; yet they will in Time depart.--- -The c{ Spirit never was given effectually to draw them ; nor yet to " keep them," Shepard's Parable, Part I. p. 205. clofes
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