PART M. e gracious Afe ions, 301 or of their firft examining them, concerning the particularMethod and Order of their Experiences. They required of them a Profeffion of the Things wrought ; but no Account of the Manner of Working was required of them. Nor is there the leaft Shadow in the Scripture of any fuch Cuftom in the Church of God, from 21dam to the Death of the Apoftle yobn. I am far from Paying that it is not requifite that Perfons fhould give any Sort of Account of theirExperiences to theirBrethren. For Perfons to profefs thofe Things wherein the Effence of Chriftianity lies, is the fame Thing as to profefs that they experience thofe Things. Thus for Perfons folemnly to profefs, That, in a Senfe and full Con- - viCtion of their own utter Sinfulnefs, Mifery, and Impotence, and to- tally undoneState as in themfelves, and their jufiDefert of God's utter Rejection and eternal Wrath, without Mercy, and the utter Infuffi- ciency of their own Righteoufnefs, or any thing in them, to fatisfy di- vine Juftice, or recommend 'em to God's Favour, they do only and entirely depend on the Lord Jefus Chrift and his Satisfaction and Righteoufnefs ; that they do with all their Hearts believe the Truth of the Gofpel of Chrift ; and that in a full Conviction and Senfe of his Sufficiency and perfect Excellency as a Saviour, as exhibited in the Gofpel, theydo with their whole Souls cleave to him, and acquiefce in him, as the Refuge and Reft of their Souls, and Fountain of their Comfort ; that they repent of their Sins, and utterly renounce all Sin, and give up themfelves wholly to Chrift, willingly fubjeéting themfelves to him as their King ; that they give him their Hearts and their whole Man ; and are willing and refolved to have God for their whole and everlafting Portion; and in a Dependance on his Pro- mifes of a future eternal Enjoyment of him in Heaven, to renounce all the Enjoyments of this vain World, felling all for this great Trea- fure and future Inheritance, and to comply with every Command of God, even the molt difficult and felf- denying, and devote their whole Lives to God's Service ; and that in Forgivenefs of thofe that have injured them, and a general Benevolence to Mankind, their Hearts are united to the People of Jefus Chrift as their People, to cleave to them and love them as their Brethren, and worfhip and ferve God and follow Chrift in Union and Fellowfhip with them, being willing and refolved to perform all thofe Duties that belong to them, as Members of the fame Family of God and myftical Body of Chrift ; I fay, for Perfons folemnly to profefs fuch Things as thefe, as in the Prefence of God, is the fame Thing, as to profefs that they are con- fcious to, or do experience fuch Things in their Hearts. Nor is it what I fuppofe, that Perfons giving an Account of their Experience of particular Exercifes of Grace, with the Times and Circumftances, gives no Advantage to others in forming a Judgment of their State ; or thatPcrfons may not fitly be enquired of concerning thefe
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