Divine Love, Treatise 2
The Character of a true Chriſtian, with ſome Divine Contemplations, Obſervations, and Directions to a Holy Life.
1.
A True Chriſtian is one that hath had clear convictions of ſin, (eſpecially his Maſter ſin & unbelief) and of Chriſt, that is, the want and worth of him; and of Judgment, that is, of puniſhment, as the due deſert of ſin, Joh. 16.8.
2.
He is unbottomed and broken off from himſelf, he hath no confidence in himſelf; his Birth, Education, Parts, Performances, and beſt works, are impure and imperfect in his own ſight, Phil. 3.3. Iſa. 64.6.
3.
He is hardly brought to believe; he hardly believes that he doth believe, and hardly caſts away his confidence, when he doth once truly believe.
4.
Upon ſelfe ſuſpition he doth greatly deſire to be ſearched, and doth earneſtly ſearch himſelf, Pſal. 139.1. and laſt, and Pſal. 77.6.
5.
He doth reſolve never to go on in any ſin, or to neglect any duty.
6.
He prays to God moſt againſt his deareſt and Maſter ſin, and praiſes God moſt when he hath power againſt it.
7.
He never repents for any ſin he hath forſaken, for any good he hath done, or for any affliction he hath ſuffered for Chriſt.
8.
He hath Love to all Chriſtians, and ſeeks Unity among all, and makes Union and Godlineſs the ground of his fellowſhip and Communion, Phil. 1.5. 1 Pet. 2.17. Rom. 14.4. 1 Cor. 1.9, 10.
9.
In reading the Scripture he obſerves what helps on his holineſs, and teacheth ſelf-denial, as well as what increaſeth knowledg.
10.
He cares not what he hath, whether he goes, nor what he ſuffers with Chriſt and for him without ſin.
11.
His faith helps on his holineſs, and his holineſs helps up his faith.
12.
Though he alwaies reſolves to follow Chriſt, through every condition, yet he much ſuſpects and fears that he ſhall not be able to hold out.
13.
He ſeeks and prizes holineſs to ſerve God here, as much as happineſs hereafter.
14.
He fears God and ſin, more then men and ſuffering, Gen. 39.9. Dan. 3.17.18.
15.
He neglects not his duty though he knows there is great danger in doing of it, Deut. 6.10.
16.
He is one that is careful to lay in, and to get true grace in his heart, as well as in his profeſſion; as the wiſe Scribe, Mat. 13. and wiſe Virgin, Mat. 25.
17.
He can and dare do nothing againſt the Truth, 2 Cor. 13.8. eſpecially if he knows it.
18.
He cleaves to the Lord, and follows after the Lord fully in the worſt times, and when others forſake him, Num. 14.24. Joh. 6.68.
19.
He reſpects all, and rejects none of Gods commandments, Pſal. 119.6. 2 Sam. 22.23.
20.
He takes patiently and thankfully, the harſheſt words and the hardeſt dealings of God, 1 Sam. 3.18. 2 Kings 20.19. Job. 1.14. to the end.
21.
He is much affected with, and afflicted for the ſufferings of the Godly, and the ſins of the wicked; as David, Jeremiah, Lot, Paul, &c.
22.
He is one that when he is recovered from his former backſliding, remembers his former good condition and prizes it, and praiſes God, and hates his ſin more then he did before, Hoſ. 2.7. and 14.2.3.8.
23.
He ſeeks and eſteems ſincerity more then any garniſhing gifts & prizes, plain and poor Chriſtians that are honeſt and upright, more then they that have parts and wealth if they be leſs ſincere.
24.
He is one that exerciſeth a good conſcience in all things.
25.
He is one that fears God and his name, and deſires Grace for Grace ſake, Neh. 1.11.
26.
He is one that prays at his firſt converſion, Acts 9.11. God hath no ſtill-born Children.
27.
He beholds Chriſt in the deepeſt affliction, as well as in the moſt ſpiritual ordinance.
28.
He believes he ſhall ſooner overcome his outward Enemies by praying for them, then by praying againſt them.
29.
He prefers Chriſt before ſelf, and ſuffering before ſinning.
30.
He deſires to live ſo holy that we may keep Chriſt in heaven undiſpleaſed; the ſpirit within him ungreived, his conſcience undefiled, unwounded and unſeared, his profeſſion unſtained, his brethren unoffended, and poor ſinners unſtumbled.
31.
His care is to wait on God, to walk with God, to work all his works in and for God, to bring his will to ſubmit to the will of God in all things, to glorifie God, and to gain good to himſelf by all he doth and ſuffereth, to do what good he can to others, and receive what good he can from other Chriſtians to deny himſelf, and to be found in Chriſts righteouſneſs without his own, Phil. 3.9.
32.
A true Chriſtian will deſire to be freed from, 1. Doubts of his Eternal condition, 2. From the power of corruption, 3. From the fire of the Law in his conſcience, 4. From the fierce Temptations of Sathan, 5. From ſcruples in matters of opinion, 6. From wicked places and perſons, where he can neither do, nor receive good, nor be without danger of Evil, 7. From a bad frame of heart, as hardneſs, ſtraightneſs, Lukewarmneſs, 8. From the fear of Death.
33.
A true Chriſtian deſires, 1. To know God in Chriſt, 2. To know himſelf in Chriſt, 3. To know Chriſt in him, 4. To know himſelf as he was without Chriſt, Eph. 2.12. 1 Tim. 1.13. Wicked and wretched in reſpect of ſin, unwilling to good, and weak in reſpect of good, Rom. 3.9.10, 11. and 8.7. and 5.6.