The Touchstone of Sincerity, Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
…herein the first Doctrine is opened and improved briefly as a preliminary discourse to the principal subject herein designed.
…oct. 1. That many professors of Religion are under very great and dangerous mistakes in their profession.
…ECT. I.
ALL Flattery is dangerous, Self-flattery is more dange…us, but Self-flattery in the business of Salva…on is the most dangerous of all.
To pretend to the good we know we ha… not, is-gross hypocrisie; to o…ine and perswa… our selves of the good we have not, thou… we think we have it, is …ormal hypocrisie; a… this was the case of those Self-deceivers the Text.
My design in this discourse is not to sha… the well-built hopes of my Man, or be… groundless Jealousies; but to discover the … al dangerous flaws in the foundation of m… ny Mens hopes for Heaven: every thing as its foundation is, and debile fundament… fallit opus; that failing all fails.
There is a twofold Self-suspicion or … in Gods own People. The one is a fear caution, awaking the Soul to the use of … preventive means for avoiding danger; … is Laudable. The other a groundless suspici… of reigning hypocrisie, tending only to … spondency; this is Culpable: by the form the soul is guarded against danger, by the … ter it is betrayed into needless trouble; a… debaried from peace.
Good Men have sometimes more fear th… they ought, and Wicked Men have less th… they ought: the former do sometimes sh… their eyes against the fair evidences of the own graces, the latter shut their eyes again the sad evidences of their Sin and Misery. T… is an evil in both, but not equally dangero… for he that shuts his Eyes against his ow…aces and privileges, loseth but his peace & …mfort for a time; but he that shuts his …es against the evidences of his Sin and …ery looseth his precious soul to all eterni…! of this latter sort of Self-deceivers the …orld is full, and these are the Men I am …cerned with in this point.
O that some men had less trouble! and …that some had more! If the foolish Virgins …d been less confident, they had certainly …en more safe, Matth. 25. If those glorious …ofessors in Matth. 7. 22. had not shut their …es against their own hypocrisie, Christ had …t shut against them the door of Salvation …d Glory. Ananias and Saphira; Hymeneus, …d Philetus; Alexander and Demas: with …ltitudes more of that sort, are the sad in…nces and proofs of this point. It is said, …v. 30. 12. There is a generation that is pure their own eyes, and yet is not washed from …ir filthiness. Through what false Spectacles …the Men of that Generation look upon …eir own Souls? The Men of that Genera…n are multiplied in this Generation: ne… was any age over-run with a generation …vain, Self-couzening, formal Professors, as …s Generation is.
Three things I shall here endeavour to do. (1.) To give evidence beyond contradi…on to this sad truth; That among Profes…s are found many Self-deceivers.
(2.) To assign the true causes and …sons why it is so. And,
(3.) Improve it in those practical i… rences the point affords.
SECT. II.
THat there are multi…s of such selfceivers among Professors, will appea… 1. First, by this, that there are ev… where to be fou… … more professors, t… Converts. Unregeherate professours, whose ligion is … the effect of Education. C…stianity by the favour of an early Provide… was the first comer, it first bespake them it self; these are Christians of an hum… Creation, rather born, than new-born bel… ers. Now, all these are self-deceived, and h… ing to damnation, under the efficacy … strong delusion; for if a man think himse… be something, when he is nothing, he deceiv… himself, saith the Apostle, Gal. 6. 3. Su… our birth-priviledge, without the new bi… is nothing; yea, worse than nothing, as to … last, and great account; that which sta… for a great summ in our Arithmetick, it's thing, it is but a Cypher you see, in God's. …cept a man be born again, (say the lips of tr… he cannot see the Kingdom of God, Joh. 3. …
Poor self-deceivers, ponder those word Christ; you have hitherto thought … civil education, your dead and heartless … …ough to denominate you Christians before …od; but go now, and learn what that Scrip…re meaneth; and be assured, you must …perience another manner of conversion, or …se it is impossible for you to escape eternal …mnation.
2. Secondly, It is too manifest by this, that …any professours are only acquainted with …e externals of Religion; and all their du…es are no more but a complyance of the …tward man with the commands of God: …is is the superficial Religion which deceives …d betrays multitudes into eternal misery. …rue Religion seats it self in the … inward …an, and acts effectually upon the vital pow…s: killing sin in the heart, and purging its …esigns and delights from carnality and sel…shness; engaging the heart for God, and …tting it as a bow in its full bent for him, in …e approaches we make to him: but how …ttle are many Professours acquainted with …ese things!
Alas! if this be all we have to stand up…, how dangerous a station is it! what is …xternal conformity, but an artificial imita…on of that which only lives in the souls of …ood men? Thus was Iehu deceived; he did …any acts of external obedience to Gods …ommand, but Iehu took no heed to walk in …ie way of the Lord God of Israel with his heart, Kings 10. 31. and this was his overthrow.
This also was the ruine of those … lifts, Ezak. 33. 31. they came and sate … fore the Lord as his people; The word … to them as a lovely song; mightily charm… with the modulation of the Prophets voi… and his lively gestures; but all the wh… their hearts went after their covetousness: what abundance of such phari…aical, sup… ficial Religion is every where to be found…
3. Thirdly, It appears by this, that eve… tryal made by sufferings upon professou… blows away multitudes like dry leaves Autumn, by a stormy wind; many fall fro… their own stedfastness in shaking times: pr… perity multiplies vain Professours, and … versity purges the Church of them. Them sh… many be offended, Mat. 24. 10.
This the Scripture every where marks as symptome of Hypocrisie, Psal. 78. 8. A gener… tion that set not their heart aright: and wh… spirit was not sted…a…t with God, I John 2. 1… But they went out, that they might be made m… nifest, that they were not of us, Matth. 13. 2… For when tribulation or persecution ariseth b…cause of the word; by and by he is offended: b… should one have told them in the days … their first profession, that all their zeal an… labour in Religion would have ended in thi… it is like they would have replyed as Haz… el to the man of God, 2 King. 8. 13. … what is thy servant a dog, that he should do th… … thing! quantum mutatus ab illo?
Oh how unlike is their dark and dirty e…ing, to their glorious and hopeful morn…g! these Professors have more of the Moon …n of the Sun; little light, less heat; but …ny changes: they deceive many, yea, they …ceive themselves, but cannot deceive God. …ring the calm, what a flourish do they …ke! and with what gallantry do they …! by and by you may hear horrendas tem…tates, and soon after you may see, flenda …fragia, a dreadful shipwrack, after a fu…us storm; and no wonder, for they …nted that foreign, that …last and establishment in …mselves that would have kept them tite …d stable.1 Pet. 3. 17.
4. Fourthly, It is too apparent by this, that …ny Professours secretly indulge and shelter …oved lusts under the wings of their pro…sion. This like a worm at the root will …her and kill them at last, how fragrant …ver they may seem to be for a season. …eon had seventy Sons, and one Bastard; … that one Bastard was the death of all his …enty Sons.
Some men have many excellent gifts, … perform multitudes of duties, but one …et sin indulged and allowed, will destroy …m all at last. He that is partial as to the …rtification of his sins, is undoub…edly hypocritical in his profession. If Davids eviden… was good for his integrity, surely such Pr…fessours will never clear themselves of hyp…crisie. I was also upright before him, and ke… my self from mine iniquity, saith he, Psal.… 23. this is the right eye, and right hand whi… every sincere Christian must pluck out, a… cut off, Matth. 5. 29, 30.
Which is a Metaphor from Chirurgeo… whose manner it is when the whole is danger by any part, to cut it off, ne pars … cera trahatur; lest all perish.
Their suppressing some lusts raiseth th… confidence, the indulging of one razeth … foundation of their hopes, and thus they …ceive themselves.
5. Fifthly, This also manifests the self-… of many professours, That the secret d… ties of Religion, or at least the secret int… course of the soul with God in them, … secret hid from the knowledge and expe… ence of many professours.
To attend the Ordinances of God in … seasons of them they know, to pray in th… families at the stated hours thereof th… know; but to retire from all the world i… their Closets, and there to pour out their he… before the Lord, they know not.
To feel somewhat within, paining th… like an empty hungry stomach until th… have eaten that hidden Manna, that br… secret; I mean refreshed their souls with …al communion with the Lord there; this a Mystery locked up from the acquain…nce of many that call themselves Christians; …d yet this is made a Characteristical note of …sincere Christian by Christ himself in Matth. 6.
O Reader, If thy heart were right with …od, and thou dist not cheat thy self with … vain profession, thou wouldst have frequent …asiness with God, which thou wouldst be …th thy dearest friend, or the wife of thy …some should be privy to: Non est religio …i omnia patent. Religion doth not lay all …en to the eyes of men. Observed duties …aintain our credit, but secret duties main…in our life. It was the saying of an Heathen …out his secret correspondency with his …iend, What need the world be a acquainted …ith it? thou and I are Theatre enough to each …her: There are enclosed pleasures in Reli…on, which none but renewed spiritual souls …o feelingly understand.
6. Lastly, How many more profess Religi…n in these dayes, than ever made Religion …eir business! Philosophy tells us there is a foreign, and a foreign, a main-business; and a by…usiness, the same is found in Religion also.
There are that give themselves to the Lord, … Cor. 8. 5. whose conversation or trade is … heaven, Phil. 3. 18. the end or scope of whose life is Christ, Heb. 13. 7, 8. who gi… Religion the precedency both in time a… affection, Psal. 5. 3. Rom. 12. 11. who are co…stant and indefatigable in the work of … Lord, 1 Cor. 15. 58.
And there are also that take up Religi… rather for ostentation, than for an occupati… who never mind the duties of Religion, b… when they have nothing else to do; a… when their outward man is engaged in t… duties of it, yet their heart is not in i… they hear, they pray, foreign, as Ch… sostome speaks, but their souls, their though… and minds are abroad. It is not their bu… …ness to have fellowship with God in duties… get their lusts mortified, their hearts trye… their souls conformed to the image of G… in holiness.
They pray as if they prayed not, and he as if they heard not: and if they feel … power in Ordinances, no quickening in …, it is no disappointment at all to the… for these were not their designs in drawi… nigh to God in these appointments.
And thus you see what numbers of Profesessours deceive themselves.
SECT III.
ANd if we seriously enquire into … grounds and causes of this self dec… among professors, we shall find these … conspiring to delude and cheat them, … the great concern of their salvation.
1. First, The natural deceitfulness of the …eart, than which nothing is more treach…ous, and false, Ier. 17. 9. The heart is de…eitful above all things, and desperately …icked foreign Supplanta…vum cor prae omnibus, Ar. Mont.the heart is …e greatest supplanter, the most crafty and …btil cheat of all, it deceives us as Iacob …d his brother, (to whose name this text …ludes.) It defeats us of our heavenly heri…age, as Iacob supplanted him in his earthly …ne; while we are gone a hunting after …arthly trifles. And wherein its deceitfulness …rincipally appears, you may see by the so…mn Caveat of the Apostle Iames, 1. 22. where… he warns us to beware, that in hearing …he word we deceive not our selves by false …easonings; for so foreign imports, …nd may be strictly rendred, false reasoning …hemselves, namely, by making false syllogis…s: …hereby they mis-conclude about their spiri…ual and eternal estate and condition, and be…ool themselves.
The time will come when a mans own …eart will be found to have the chief hand …n his ruine; and what Apollodorus did but …ancy his heart said to him, some mens hearts will tell them in earnest when they come to …he place of misery and torment; foreign foreign. I have been the cause of all this… I have betrayed thee into all these torment… It was my laziness, my credulity, my ave… seness to the ways of strict godliness, morti…fication, and self denyal have for ever undon… thee. When thou satest under the convincin… truths of the Gospel; It was I that whispere… those Atheistical surmises into thine ear, per… swading thee all thou heardst was but th… intemperate heat of an hot brained zealo… when the Judgements of God were denoun…ced, and the misery thou now feelest fore… warned and threatned, it was I that whis…pered what the tongue of another onc… spake out, Tunc credam, cùm illuc venero. I wil… believe it when I come …hither.
Surely this is a great truth which was ob…served by the wisest of men, he that trustet… in his own heart is a fool, Prov. 28. 26. and thousands of such fools are to be found amon… Professours.
2. Secondly, Satan is a chief conspirato… in this treacherous design; we are not ignoran… (saith the the Apostle) of his devices; foreign his Sophistry and sleights, 2 Cor. 2. 21. his foreign, trains and methods of temptation… which are thoughly studied, and artificially moulded and ordered; even such Systems as… Tutors and Professours of Arts and Science… have, and read over to their Auditors; a… one judiciously observes, to be the impor… of that Text, Eph. 6. 11. Nor it is to be wondred at,Dr. Goodwin Child of Light… considering his vast knowledge, deep malice, and long experience in this Art of cheating; together with the great corruption and pronity of the hearts of men to close with his devices, and believe his impostures; that so vast a number of souls are take captive by him at his will, 2 Tim. 2. 26.
'Tis the God of this world that blinds the minds of them that beleve not, 2 Cor. 4. 3, 4. The God of this world, (so call'd by a Mimesis) who leads a world of poor deluded wretches to destruction, having first blinded their minds, that is deluded, and with his hellish art practised upon their understanding, that foreign, leading and directive faculty, which is to the soul what eyes are to the body.
I remember Basil brings in Satan thus insulting Christ, I have them, I have them: for all thy blood and miracles, thy wooings and beseechings, thy knockings and strivings, I have couzened thee of them at the very gates of Heaven: for all their illuminations, and tasting of the powers of the World to come; I have shipwrackt them in the very mouth of the haven.
3. Thirdly, The common works found in unregenerate souls, deceive many, who cannot distinguish them from the special works of the spirit in Gods Elect: see that startlin… Scripture, Heb. 6. 4. where you find among the common operations of the Spirit upo… Apostates, illumination, which gives perspicuity to their minds in discerning spiritua… truths, and that frequently with more distinctness and depth of Judgment, thansom… gracious souls attain unto; besides, it is the matter out of which many rare and excellent gifts are formed in admirable variety▪ which are singularly useful to others as they are exercised in expounding the Scriptures … de…ending the truths of Christ by solid arguments, preaching, praying, &c. and make the subject of them renowned and honoured in the Church of God; whilest mean time, they are d…zled with their own splendour, and fatally ruined by them.
There you find also Tasting as well as enlightening. So that they seem to abound not only in knowledge, but in sense also, (i. e.) i… some kind of experience of what they know; for experience is the bringing of things to the Test of spiritual sense. They do tast… or experience the good that comes by the promises of the word, and discoveries of heaven and glory; though they feel not experimentally the transforming efficacy of these things upon their own souls.
Now that illumination furnishing them with excellent gifts (as before was noted) enabling them to Assent to Gospel truth's, which the Scripture calls faith, Acts 8. 12. and working in them conviction of sin, 1 Sam. 15. 24. reformation of life, 2 Pet. 2. 2…. and touching their affections also with transient joy in the discovery of those truth….
And this Taste which comes so near to the experience which the sanctified soul enjoyes: these things seem to put their condition beyond all controversie, and lay a foundation for their ill built confidence; nothing is more apt to beget and nourish such a Confidence than the meltings and workings of our affections about spiritual things; for as a grave Divine hath well observed,Mr. A. Burges. such a man seems to have all that is required of a Christian, and to have attained the very end of all knowledge, which is operation and influence upon the affections. When they shall find heat in their affections, as well as light in their minds; how apt are they to say (as these self-deceivers in the Text did) they are rich, and have need of nothing! Now of all the false signs of grace, by which men couzen themselves, none are so dangerous and destructive to souls, as those that come nearest true ones: never doth Satan more effectually and securely manage his cheats, than when he is transformed into an Angel of light.
Among this sort of self-deceivers, how m… ny gifted men, and among that sort some im…ployed in the office of the Ministry, will b… found! whose daily imployment being abou… spiritual things, studying, preaching, pray… ing &c. conclude themselves sanctified persons, because they are versant about sacre… imployments, as if the subject must be, be…cause the object is sacred. Oh that suc… would seriously ponder those two Scripture… Mat. 7. 22. Many will say unto me in tha… day, Lord, Lord; have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils and in thy name done many wonderful things and I Cor. 9 27. — lest that by any mean… when I have preached unto others, I my self shoul… be a cast away.
4. Lastly, To add here no more, this strength…ens self deceit exceedingly in many, viz… their observations of and comparing them…selves with others. Thus the Pharisees, (thos… gross self deceivers) trusted in themselves tha… they were righteous and despised others, Luke 18… 9. their low rating of others, gave them tha… high rate and value of themselves: and thu… the proverb is made good, regnat luscus inte… c…cos, he that hath but one eye, is a King among the blind.
Thus the false Apostles cheated and be… fool'd themselves, 2. Cor. 10. 12. but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wi…e. God hath not made one Man a measure or …andard to another Man, but his Word is …he common beam or scale to try all Men.
These Men are as sharp sighted to note o…er Mens evils, as their own excellencies, … eye the miscarriages of others with derisi…, and their own performances with admira…on.
They bless themselves when they behold …e prophane in their impieties, Luk. 18. 11. God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, Extortioners, Unjust, Adulterers, or even as this …ublican, q. d. O what a Saint am I in com…arison of these miscreants! The Pharisees Religion you see runs all upon nots; a nega…ve holiness is enough to him; and the mea…re he takes of it is by comparison of him…elf, with others more externally vile than …imself. A Christian may say with praise …nd humility, I am not as some men are, but …ough he know nothing by himself, yet is he …ot thereby justified, 1 Cor. 4. 4. he neithe… …akes together the enormities of the vilest, on …he infirmities of the holiest to justifie and …pplaud himself as these Self deceivers do. And these are the causes and occasions of that general deception, under which so great a …art of the professing World bow down, …nd perish.
SECT. IV.
3. IN the last place I shall prove this po… variously according to the importan… and usefulness of it, with as much brevi… and closeness of Application as I can: An…
Use. 1. Shall be for Caution to Professon before I tell you what use you should ma… of it, I must tell you what use you may n… make of it.
First, Don't make this use of it, to co… clude from what hath been said, that all P… fessors are but a pack of Hypocrites, and th… there is no Truth nor Integrity in any Ma… this is both intolerable arrogance to ascen… the Throne of God, and unparallel'd Unch…ritableness to judge the hearts of all Men.
Some Men are as apt to conclude others … be Hypocrites, by measuring their hearts b… their own, as others are to conclude the…selves Saints, by comparing their own exce… lencies with other Mens corruptions: but ble… sed be God there is some grain among th… heap of chaff, some true Diamonds amon… the counterfeit Stones. The Devil hath no… the whole piece; a remnant according … election belongs really to the Lord.
2. Secondly, Don't make this use of it, tha… assurance must needs be impossible, becau… so many Professors are found to be Self de…ceivers.
That assurance is one of the great diffi…lties in Religion, is a great truth; but that is therefore unattainable in this World, is …ery false. Popish Doctrine indeed makes it …possible, but that Doctrine is practically …nfuted in the comfortable experience … many Souls: all are commanded to …ive for it: 2 Pet. 1. 10. give diligence to …ake your calling and Election sure: and some …ave the happiness to obtain it: 2 Tim. 1. 12. … I know whom I have believed, and I am per…aded that he is able to keep that which I have …mmitted unto him against that day.
Let the Similar works upon Hypocrites re…mble as much as they will the saving works … the Spirit upon Believers; yet God doth wayes, and the Saints do sometimes plainly …scern the difference.
3. Thirdly, Don't make this use of it, to …ceal and hide the Truths or Graces of …od, or refuse to profess, and confess them be…re Men, because many Professors deceive …emselves and others also; by a vain Pro…ssion, because another professeth what he …th not, must you therefore hide or deny …hat you have? 'Tis true, the possession of …race and Truth in your own Souls is that …hich saves you; but the profession and con…ssion of it, is that which honours God, and …; yea, sometimes is the instrument to … others: it's your comfort that you feel it, it's others comfort to know that you so. Ostentation is your sin, but a serious … humble profession is your duty, Rom. 10. …
SECT. V.
Use. 2. HAving shewed you in the for… Section what use you ought no… make of this Doctrine, I will next shew … what use you ought to make of it; and su… you cannot improve this point to a be… purpose than from it to take warni… and look to your selves, that you be … of that number who deceive themselves … their Profession. If this be so, suffer me clo… to press that great Apostolical Caution. I … 10. 12. Let him that thinks he stands, take h… lest he fall. O Professors, look carefully your foundation; be not high minded, … fear: you have it may be done and suffer many things in and for Religion; you h… excellent gifts, and sweet comforts, a wa… zeal for God, and high confidence of y… integrity; all this may be right (for ou… I or (it may be) you know) but yet 'tis p… sible it may be false also; you have so… times judged your selves, and pronoun… your selves upright; but remember your …nal Sentance is not yet pronounced by yo… Judge. And what if God weigh you over …gain in his more equal ballance, & should … Mene tekel, thou art weighed in the ballan… art found wanting; What a confounded …an wilt thou be under such a Sentance! … splendent in conspectu hominis, sordent in …spectu Iudicis; things that are highly e…emed of Men, are an abomination in the …ht of God; he seeth not as Man seeth.
Thy Heart may be false, and thou not …ow it; yea, it may be false, and thou …ongly confident of its Integrity.
The Saints may approve thee, and God …ndemn thee, Rev. 3. 1. Thou hast a name …at thou livest but thou art dead: Men may … there's a true Nathanael, and God may …, there's a self-couzening Pharisee.
Reader, thou hast heard of Iudas & Demas, … Ananias & Sapphira, of Hymeneus and Phile…; once renowned and famous Professors, thou hast heard what they proved at last. …Take heed their case be not thine own; … they not all as it were with one mouth … to thee, O Professor! if thou wilt not …me where we are, don't couzen thy self … we did: if thou expectest a better place …d lot, be sure thou get a sincerer Heart: …d we been more self-suspicious, we had …en more safe.
I would not scare you with needless jealou…s, but I would fain prevent fatal mistakes. …on't you find your hearts deceitful in ma…y things? Don't they shuffle over secret …uties? Don't they …ensure the same evils in others, which they scarce reprove in yo… selves? Are there not many by ends in d… ties? Don't you find they are far less affect… with a great deal of service and honour do… to God by others, than with a little by yo…selves?
Is it not hard to look upon other Me… excellencies without envy, or upon your o… without pride?
And are you not troubled with a busie … as well as with a bad Heart? Hath … he that circuits the whole World observ… you? Hath he not studied your constitu…on sins, and found out that sin which m…easily besets you? Hath he less malice …gainst your Souls than others? Surely y… are in the very thick of temptations; tho…sands of snares are round about you. Oh ho… difficul…y are the Righteous saved! How ha… to be upright! How few even of the prof…sing World win Heaven at last!
Otherefore search your hearts, Professor… and let this caution go down to your ve…reins; let him that thinks he stands, take he… lest be fall.
Away with rash uncharitable censures … others, and be more just and severe i…cen…ring your selves. Away with dry and unp… fitable controversies, & spend your thoug… upon this great question, Am I sound, or a… I rotten at heart? am I a new Creature, … old Creature still in a new Creatures dress …d habit? B…g the Lord that you be not …eceived in that great point (your inte…ity) whatever else you may be mistaken …. Pray that you be not given up to an …eedless, careless, and vain Spirit, and then …ave Religious duties for a Rattle to still and …iet your Consciences.
Surely, that ground-work can never be …id too sure, upon which so great a stress as …y soul and eternity must depend. It will …ot repent thee (I dare promise) when thou …omest to die, that thou hast employed thy …me and strength to this end: whilest o…ers are panting after the dust of the Earth, …nd saying, who will shew us any good? be …ou panting after the assurances of the love …f God, and crying who will shew me how … make my calling and election sure?
O deceive not your selves with names & …otions! think not, because you are for a …ricter way of Worship, or because you as…cia…e with (and are accordingly denomi…ated) one of the more reformed Professors; …at therefore you are safe enough: alas! how …all an interest have titles, modes, and de…omi…tions in Religion? Suppose a curious Artist take a lump of Lead and refine it, and …ast it into the Mould; whence it comes …orth shining, and bearing some noble figure, …uppose of an Eagle, yet it is but a leaden Eagle. Suppose the Figure of a Man, and that … the most exact lineaments and proportion … yet still is it but a leaden Man. Nay, let … bear the Figure of an Angel, it is but a lead… Angel: for the base and ignoble matter … the same it was, though the Figure be no… Even so, Take an Unregenerate carnal Ma… let his life be reformed, and his tongue r…fined; and cale him a zealous Conformist, … a strict Non-conformist; call him a Presbyter… an, an Independant or what you will; he … all the while but a carnal Conformist, … Non-conformist; an unregenerate Presbyt… rian, a carnal Independent; for the nature … still the same, though the stamp and figu… his Profession gives him, be not the same.
O my Friends believe it, fine names, an… brave words, are of little value with Go… God will no more spare you for these, tha… Samuel did Agag for his delicate Ornament… and spruce appearance: either make su… the root of the matter, or the leaves of a va… Profession will not long cover you.
To be deceived by another is bad enoug… but to deceive our selves is a thousand tim… worse.
To deceive our selves in truths of the S… perstructure is bad, and they that do so sha… suffer loss; 1 Cor. 3. 12. but to deceive … selves in the foundation is a desperate decei… and shipwracks all our hope and happine… at once.
If any Man lose his Money by a cheat it …ubles him, but to lose his Soul by a cheat will …ound him: if a Man lose an Eye, an Ear, Hand, a Foot; yet omnia Deus dedit dupli…, as Chrysostome speaks; God hath given …ese Members double; so that there's ano…er left; animan verò unam; but the Soul is …, and only one, and if that be damned, …ou have not another to be saved.
O therefore be restless till it be, and till …ou know it be out of eternal danger.
SECT. VI.
…se 3. IN conclusion, if so many Professors of Religion be cheated in their …rofession, let all that are well satisfied and …sured of their integrity bless the Lord …hil'st they live, for that …ercy. O 'tis a mercy that no unsanctified Soul can have; …ea, & it's a mercy that many gracious Souls …annot obtain, though they seek it with …ears; and would part with all the pleasant …ings they have in the World to enjoy it.
This is that mercy that gives Souls the …ighest pleasures this World is acquainted …ith, or the state of this mortality can bear: …or let the well assured Soul but consider …hat it is assured of: Christ with the purchases …f his Blood. O what is this! I am my belo…eds, and my beloved is mine, Cant. 2. 16. what … vital ravishing overpowering efficacy is in that voice of Faith. Let it but look back … few Years, and compare what it was wi… what it is: it was afar off, it's now ma… nigh, Ephes. 2. 12, 13. It was not belove… but is now beloved, Rom. 25. 26. it had n… obtaine… mercy, but now hath obtained mercy, 1 Pet. 2. 10. or let the assured So… look forward and compare what it now i… and hath, with what it shortly shall be mad… and put in possession of: Beloved, (saith th… Apostle) now are we the Sons of God, but … doth not yet appear what we shall be: but w… know that when he shall appear, we shall be lik… him, for we shall see him as he is, 1 John. 3. …
I say, let the assured Soul but sleep i… thoughts by meditation in these subjects, an… it is as impossible to keep him from h… transports of Joy, as it is for a Man to for…bear laughing when he is tickled.
O what a life have you in comparison o… other Men? Some have two Hells, one present, another coming; you have two Heavens; one in hand, the other in hope. Som… of your own brethren in Christ, that have been it may be many years panting after assurance, are still denyed it; but God hath indulged so peculiar a favour to you. … Bless ye the Lord, and make his praise glorious.