A Cabinet of Choice Jewels, Chapter 1 · Maxim 13
The Thirteenth Maxim or Conſideration.
THirteenthly, Conſider you muſt never judg your ſelves unſound,The grand Rule by which we muſt try and judg of our ſpiritual and eternal eſtates, is the word of God, Iſa. 8.20. in this Scripture the Prophet plainly ſhews whither we muſt go with our doubts, fears, ſcruples, queſtions, and with whom we muſt conſult, and of whom we muſt take advice, and that is the Law and the teſtimony. or Hypocrites, by thoſe things which the Scripture never makes a Character of an unſound Chriſtian, or of an Hypocrite, or of Hypocriſy. Mark, as you are to receive no comfort, but what is backt with clear Scripture, nor no evidences for the goodneſs and happineſs of your ſpiritual eſtate and condition, but ſuch as are backt with clear Scriptures; ſo you are to receive, you are to admit of no Arguments, nor pleas, nor reaſonings, to prove your ſelf an Hypocrite, or unſound, or that you have no Grace, or that your ſpiritual eſtate and condition is not good, but ſuch Arguments pleas, and reaſonings, as are backt with clear Scriptures. Now tell me O thou weak doubting ſtaggering trembling Chriſtian, if thou canſt, where are thoſe clear Scriptures that proves wandring thoughts in Duty, or that proves narrowneſs or ſtraitneſs of Spirit in a duty, to be characters of an Hypocrite, or of hypocriſy, or of one that is unſound? tell me O thou ſighing Chriſtian, if thou canſt, where are thoſe clear Scriptures that proves the want of a good memory for the beſt things, or the want of thoſe gifts or abilities that many Chriſtians have, to Pray, to ſpeak, to diſcourſe, to open Scripture, or to diſpute for the concernments of Chriſt and his Kingdom, to be characters of an Hypocrite or of hypocriſy, or of one that is unſound? Tell me O thou diſtreſſed Chriſtian if thou canſt, where are thoſe clear Scriptures that will juſtify thee to conclude that thou art an Hypocrite, becauſe thou art without the preſent evidence of thy ſincerity? Are there not many of the precious ſons and daughters of Zion comparable to fine gold,Iſa. 50.10. 1 John 5.13. Gen. 44. Lam. 4.2. who have true Grace and ſincerity in their hearts, though for the preſent it be hid from their eyes? Joſephs Brethren had their mony in their ſacks, though they did not ſee it, nor know it till they came to their Inn and opened them. So many of the dear children of God have ſincerity in their hearts, though for the preſent they do not ſee it nor know it. O Sirs! tis Chriſts work, not Graces, to evidence it ſelf ſo clearly and fully to our eyes, as to enable us to own it; tis one thing for the Spirit of God to work Grace in the Soul, and another thing for the Spirit to ſhine upon his own work; now till the Spirit ſhines upon his own work, the Soul is in the dark,1 Cor. 2.12. the Graces of the Spirit are beſt ſeen in the light of the Spirit, as we ſee the Sun beſt by his own light: Tis good for doubting Chriſtians when they are in the dark, to hold faſt this concluſion, viz. that they may be upright, though at preſent they are not able to ſee their uprightneſs. Now though this will not bring in a full Tyde of comfort into their Souls, yet it will keep them from deſpair, and it will ſupport and uphold their hearts, till the Spirit, who is a Meſſenger of a thouſand, ſhall ſhew them their uprightneſs. Tell me O thou mourning Chriſtian if thou canſt, where are thoſe clear Scriptures that proves deadneſs, dulneſs, and indiſpoſedneſs in duty (though it be ſadly lamented, bewailed and mourned over, and much ſtriven againſt, yea though it be the great grief and burden of the Soul) to be characters of Hypocrites, or of hypocriſy, or of one that is unſound? Tell me O thou diſquieted Chriſtian if thou canſt, where are thoſe clear Scriptures that proves the want of thoſe enlargements, raviſhments, joyes, comforts,In all Soul caſes, God expects we ſhould conſult his word, and cleave to his word, without warping or turning aſide either to the right hand or to the left, John 12.48. That book that ſhall try you at laſt, and that ſhall ſave you or damn you in the great day, is the only book by which you muſt make a judgment of your preſent and future eſtates. Clemens of Alexandria, ſpeaking of the Word, ſaith, it is the touchſtone of truth and falſhood. peace or aſſurance that ſome others have, to be characters of Hypocrites or hypocriſy, or of one that is unſound? and yet upon the account of the above mentioned things on the one hand, and under a ſenſible want of the things laſt cited on the other hand, how exceeding apt and prone are many poor weak doubting trembling Chriſtians, confidently and peremptorily to conclude themſelves to be Hypocrites, and to be unſound, and that they have not a dram of Grace, nor no ſaving intereſt in Chriſt at all. O Sirs! remember this once for all, that as you muſt never admit of any Arguments, Pleas, or Reaſonings for the comfort peace and refreſhment of your ſouls, but ſuch as are attended with the evidence of clear Scripture; but ſuch as are backt with pregnant Scriptures: So you muſt never admit of any Pleas, Arguments or Reaſonings, to trouble, vex, perplex, and diſquiet the peace of your ſouls, but ſuch as are attended with clear Scripture evidence, but ſuch as are well backt with Canonical Scripture. Now if this choice Rule were but wiſely obſerved, and carefully, frequently, and conſcientiouſly practiſed by many weak doubting trembling Chriſtians, how would it ſet them at liberty from their fears, doubts, and miſgivings of heart; how would it knock off all their chains, and wipe all tears from their eyes, and remove that ſadneſs that lyes like a load upon their hearts, and how ſoon would it bring them into a condition of peace, comfort, quietneſs, and ſettlement. O Sirs! every working and appearance of hypocriſy, doth not preſently prove the perſon in whom it is to be an Hypocrite. A man may be hypocritical either 1. Really. Or 2. In Opinion and fancy, many of the dear children of God are very apt and prone many times both to ſuſpect and falſly charge the true eſtate of their ſouls. A child in a diſtemper may queſtion the inheritance which is entailed on him, &c. But remember this, if thy heart be upright, all comfort is thy portion, for as our diſtruſtful fears do not prejudice the reality of the eſtate of grace. So our frequent ſuſpitions that we are hypocrites, does not cut us off from the title and right of promiſed comforts. Chriſtians muſt carefully diſtinguiſh between the preſence of hypocriſy, and the predominancy of hypocriſy. In the moſt upright hearts that are in the world, there is more or leſs hypocriſy remaining in them: All the Saints that ever were in the World,Rom. 7.22, 23. Heb. 12.15. have found more or leſs of this root of bitterneſs ſpringing up in them; tis not the preſence of hypocriſy, but the reign of hypocriſy that damns the ſoul; that hypocriſy that is diſcerned, reſiſted, oppoſed, and mourned over, will never make a Chriſtian miſerable. Where the ſtanding frame and general bent of a mans heart is upright, there the preſence of hypocriſy cannot denominate a man an hypocrite. All men muſt ſtand and fall for ever according to the ſtanding frame and general bent of their hearts; if the ſtanding frame and general bent of their hearts be ſincere, they are happy for ever; but if the ſtanding frame and general bent of their hearts be hypocritical, they are miſerable for ever. But,