1ISCOtTRSE XI. 30i self would pass,if youwere now summoned before his tribunat Suffer not yourselves now to be biassed by the esteem or the fond- ness that we all have naturally for ourselves. The matter is too important, the enquirytoo solemn and awful, for you to indulge self flattery. It will be no profit to deceive your souls in this work, for you cannot deceive God. Come therefore and apply yourselves to this holy exercise, with an unbiassed design to pro- nounce concerning yourselves whatever you find the word of God pronounces concerning you. . 3. 'Trust not merely to your own spirits, without earnest prayer for the assistance of the Spirit of God ; Jer. xvii. 9. The heart is deceitful above all things :Who can know it There- fore David prays importunately, as we have before observed, that God would search hie and try him ; Ps. cxxxix. 23, 24. Beg of the Lord that he would not suffer you to be deceived; when you set about this searching work ; for it is a matter of most high concern. A mistake here is dangerous and it may be- for ever fatal. 4. When youfind any character of adoption made to appear with strongevidence against your souls, be not utterly discouraged though you do not find all the characters of grace there. It is true indeed, where there is a new nature and divine principle wrought in the heart, there are the seeds of every holy disposi- tion ; but they do not all arise to an equal strength, nor stand forth and shine with equal evidence. The Spirit of God may sometimes witness with your spirits, though but one mark of adoption appear plainly, while others arenot so easily discovered. A single bough of the tree of life has upheld souls from drown- ing in despair, when they could but lay hold of that one bough. Many a christian, under great difficulties, inward tumults, doubts, and darknesses of spirit, have-beenenabled to hold on their way by living upon some one plain scripture, and findingthe sense of it transcribed into their own hearts. Someone evidence of true faith, or holy love, of repentance, or heavenly-mindedness, has been set in such á divine light before them, that they could not well mistake ; and this has borne up their hope in an hour of temptation. But I must :add, 5. Though you ought to bless God for anymark ofhis child- ren in your hearts, yet you ought not to content yourself with one mark, since the scripture has given us many. 'The faculties of our natures are various, and they have their various operati- ons : The passions or affections of our souls are many, and some of themare frequentlyin exercise : Now all the passions and fa- culties of nature, with all theiroperations, should be conformable to the rule of the word of God ; and when it isso,there appears a variety of marks of the children of God uponus, even as many as there are powers or passions belonging to our souls. Mae,.
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