356 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. mercy will produce. Their hearts they find are weak, and all their duties are worthless; if they were weighed in the balance they would be all found light as air. In the best of them there is such a mixture of self-hypo- crisy, unbelief, vain-glory, that they are even ashamed and confounded with the remembrance of them. These things fill them with discouragements, so that they re- fuse to be comforted or to entertain any refreshing per- suasion of their good estate; but rather conclude that they are utter strangers to forgiveness with God, and so continue helpless in their depths. According to the method pursued, I shall only lay down some general rules that may support a soul under such despondencies, that none of these things may weaken its endeavors to lay hold of forgiveness. And, I. This is the proper place to put in execution our seventh rule, to lake heed of heartless complaints, when vigorous actings of grace are expected of us. If it be thus indeed, why lie you on your face ? why do you not rise and strive to the utmost, giving all diligence to add one grace to another, till you find yourself in a better frame'? Supposing, then, the putting of that rule into practice, I add that, 1. Known holiness is apt to degenerate into self-righ- teousness. What God gives us in sanctification we are ready enough to reckon on the score of justification. It is difficult to have evidence of grace in us, and yet trust solely in Christ as perishing sinners. We have so much of the Pharisee in us by nature, that it is some- times well that our good is hid from us, We are ready to take our corn and wine and bestow them- on other lovers. Were there not in our hearts a perceived prin-
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