316 The twelfth Sign PART III. Seeing therefore that thefe are the Things that God makes ufe of to try us, 'tis undoubtedly the furel Way for us to pats a rightJudg- ment on our (elves, to try our (elves by the fame Things. Thefe Trials of his are not for his Information, but for ours ; therefore we ought to receive our Information from thence. The fureft Way to know our Gold, is to look upon it and examine it in God's Furnace, where he tries it for that End that we may fee what it is. If we have a Mind to know whether a Building lands itrong or no, we mutt took upon it when tke Wind blows. If we would know whether that which appears in the Form of Wheat, has the real Subftance of Wheat, or be only Chaff, we muff obferve it when it is winnowed. If we would know whether a Staff be ftrong, or a rotten brokenReed, we mutt obferve it when it is leaned on, and Weight is borne upon it. If we would weigh our (elves juftly, we muff weigh our felves in God's Scales, that he makes ufe of to weigh us. * Thefe Trials in * Dr. Sibbs, in his bruifed Reed, Pays, " When Chrift's Will cometh in Competition with any worldly Lois or Gain, yet if then, in that particular Cafe, the Heart will loop to " Chrift, it is a true Sign. For the trueft Trial of the Power cc of Grace, is in fuch particular Cafes as touch us neareff ; for CG there our Corruption maketh the greateft Head. When Chrift came home to the young Man in the Gofpel, he loft « a Difciple of him." Mr. Flavel fpeaks of a holy Pradlice under Trials, as the greateft Evidence of Grace : " No Man (lays he) can fay what he is, " whether his Graces he true or falle, 'till they be tried and " examined by thofe Things, which are to them as Fire is to " Gold." Toucb?flone of Sincerity, Chap. 4. Sect. r. Again, fpeaking of great Difficulties and Sufferings in the Way of Duty, wherein a Perfon muff aEtually part with what is deareft of a worldly Nature, or with his Duty ; he Pays, " That fuch Suf- " ferings as thefe will difcover the Falfenefs and Rottennefs of Men's Hearts, cannot be doubted ; if you confider, that this " is the Fire defined by God for this very Ufe and Purpofe, to cc feparate the Gold from the Drofs. So you will find it, r Pet. 4. 12. Beloved, think it not 7/range concerning the fiery cc Trial that is to try you, i. e. The very Defign and Aim of " Providence in permitting and ordering them, is to try you. « Upon this Account you find the Hour of Perfecution (in a fuitable Notion) called the Hour of Temptation or Proba- " don, Rev. 3. to. For then Profeffors are lifted to the very 6C Bran, fearched to the very bottom Principles. This is the 46 Day
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