àC 84 What are no Signs PART II. they talk feelingly. They may relifh their Talk, and imagine they perceive a divine Savour in it ; and yet all may come to nothing. 'Tis ffrange how hardly Men are brought to be contented with the Rules and Directions Chrift has given them, but they muff needs go by other Rules, of their own inventing, that feem to them wifer and better. I know of no Direthons or Counfels which Chrift ever deli- vered more plainly, than the Rules he has given us, to guide us in our judging of others Sincerity ; viz. that we fhould judge of the Tree chiefly by the Fruit : But yet this won't do ; but other Ways are found out, which are imagined to be more diftinguifhing and certain. And woful have been the mifchievous Confequences, of this arrogant fetting up Men's Wifdom above the Wifdom of Chrift. I believe many Saints have gone much out of the Way of Chrift's Word, in this Refpea : And fome of them have been chaftifed with Whips, and (I had almoft laid) Scorpions, to bring them back again. But many Things which have lately appeared, and do now appear, may convince, that ordinarily, thofe who have gone furtheft this Way, that have been molt highly conceited of their Faculty of difcerning, and have appeared molt forward, peremptorily and fuddenly to deter- mine theState of Mens Souls, have beenHypocrites, who have known nothing of true Religion. In the Parable of the Wheat and Tares, it is fa;d, Matth. r 3. 26. When the Blade was fprung up, and bro'tforth Fruit, then appeared the Tares alfo. As tho' the Tares were not difcerned, nor diffinguifha- ble from the 'Wheat, 'till then, as Mr. Flavel obferves ; -j- who men- tions it as an Obfervation of 'Jerom's, That Wheat and Tares are fa much alike, 'till the Blade of the Wheat comes to bringforth the Ear, that 'tis next to impollible to dillinguifh them. And then, Mr. Flavel adds, " How difficult fo ever it be to difcern the Difference be- " tween Wheat and Tares ; yet doubtlefs theEye of Senfe can much 46 eafier difcriminate them, than the molt quick and piercing Eye of 44 Man, can difcern the Difference between fpecial and common " Grace. For all faving Graces in the Saints, have their Counter- s feits in Hypocrites ; there are fimilar Works in thofe, which a fpiritual and very judicious Eye may eafily miftake, for the Paving sc , and genuine Effe.c`ts of a fanc`tifying Spirit." As 'tis the Ear or the Fruit which diftinguifhes the Wheat from the Tares, fo this is the true Shibboleth,that he who Rands as Judge at the Paffages of 'Jordan, makes ufe of to diftinguifh thofe that (hall paff over 'Jordan into the true Canaan, from thofe that fhould be Hain at the Paffages. For fhe Hebrew Word Shibboleth, fignifies an Ear of Corn. And perhaps the more full Pronounciation of 7epthah's f Hufbandry fpiritualiz'd, Chap. 12, Friends,
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