The. Fruits of the Spirit, °' Vq14 we will but,look into-eui felves, and obferye our ownMtions, we may e2fily di- kern, whether we be malicious and envious, cruel and hard- hearted, cenforious and uncharitable; or good, and kind, and merciful, and ready to forgive;. whe- tiler we make confeience of our Word or not; and whether we do to otl ers,; as we would have them do tous. Nothing is more eafie to be known than it is which of thefe qualities does poffefs and rule. our Hearts, and govern and bear fway in our Lives. And if we can know this, we know whether we have the fruits of the Spirit or not : for thefruit of the Spirit is in all Qoodnefs, and Righte- oufnefs, and Truth. And by thefe fruits of theSpirit, or the want of them, (which are both very difcernable) we mayknow what our Rate and condition is whether wehave the Spirit of God, and be true and fincere Chriftians. A great tnany;Metï tire themfelves in an endlefs enquiry, concerningthe good eftateof their Souls to- wards God; whether they be the Children of God, and whether they have the Spirit of God or not,and are trying themfelves all their lives, by obfcure and un- certain marks, whichwill never bringthe matter to any clear blue, but leave theth Will in the dark and in doubt, concerning their owti fincerity, '.and the integrity of their Hearts towards God. And how can it be otherwife, fnce they have been fo oftentold by unikilful Men, that they cannot know their own Hearts, and con- fequently can never be affured of their own Integrity and Sincerity? This, I muff confefs, is but an ill Ggnof fincerity, when we find it fohard a matter to difcern it in our felves. Yob found it clearly in himfelf, and was very-confidently affu- redof it, fob 27. q, 6. Till Idie, fays he, I will not remove my integrity from;me. My righteoufnels I holdfall, and will not let it go. But if a Man cannot knowhis own Heart, and whether we have Integrity orr'not ;; how {hail he know either when he parts with it, or when he holds it fait ? The Apoftle in the Text gives us a fure mark whereby we may know when we have the Spirit of God, by the fenfible fruits and effeélsof it. I will conclude all with theApofle's exhortation,Pbil. ,. 8.Finally, brethren,what- foeverthings are true, whatfoever things arehoned, whatfoever things are jz/I,svhatfo- everthings are p1 :re,whatfoever things are lovely,whatfoever things areofgoodrepert; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praife; think on theft things. Think of themand regard them as principal parts of your Duty, and particular Iuftancesof that univerfal goodnefs which Chrifianity teacheth and requires, as theproper and genuine effefls of that. Grace of God which loath appeared to all Men, andbrings Salvation, that is, of the Gofpel. And if the Doctrineof the Gofpel do not pro- duce thefe bleffed Fruits and Effecds in the heartsand lives of thofe who profefs the Chriftian Religion; then, as theApoftle to the Hebrews reafons, How (hall we efcape, if we neglect fo great falvation, whichwas'at far/i fpoken by the Lord, and afterwards confirmed by them that heard him; God alfo bearing them witnefs, both with figns, and wonders; and divers miracles,- and Gafis of the Holy Ghofl, accord- ing to his ozvn will ?_. a SER-
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