RULES FOR OBTAINING FORGIVENESS. 315 it was not so whilst he could wield his sword. It is not for every private soldier, on every danger, to make a judgment of the battle; that is the work of the general. Jesus Christ is the captain of our salvation : he has un- dertaken the conduct of our souls through all our diffi- culties. Our duty is to fight and contend : his work is to take care of the event; and to him it is to be com- mitted. That then you may make a due use of this rule, keep always in mind these two considerations : 1. That it is not for you to take th,e judgment of Christ out of his hand, and to be passing sentence upon your own soul. Judgment, as to the state and condition of men, is committed to Christ; and to him it is to be left. This we were directed to in our first rule, and it is of special use in the case under consideration. Self- judging, in reference to sin and the demerit of it, is our duty. The judging of our state in relation to the remedy provided, is the office and work of Jesus Christ. 2. Consider that hard thoughts as to what God will do with you, andharshdesponding sentences pronounced against yourselves, will insensibly alienate your hearts fromGod. It may be, when men's perplexities are at their height, and the most sad expressions are, as it were, wrested from them, they yet think they must jus- tify God, and that they do so accordingly. But yet such thoughts as those mentioned are very apt to infect the mind with other inclinations; for, after a while they will prevail with the soul to look on God as an enemy, and the consequence is easily discerned. Suffer not, then, your mind to be tainted with such thoughts, and let not God be dishonored by any such expressions as
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