A Discourse Grounded on Proverbs, Part 1 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. Diſcovers what thoſe Right Thoughts are, that are the Righteous mans Evidence: and how to be known.
Sect. I.
BUt alas!Objection may ſome one ſay, Is not Mans heart a great deep, Pſal, 64, 6and deſperately wicked, Jer. 17, …and deceiptful above all things? I am affraid of Judging my ſelf by my Thoughts of my ſelf, leaſt I ſhould Miſjudge of my ſelf, finding my ſelf ſo apt to think amiſs; doth not the Apoſtle ſpeak of ſome that meaſuring themſelves by themſelves are not, wiſe. 2 Co. 10, 12There is ſo much Pride, Partiality, and Self-love, that almoſt every way of man will ſeem clean and right in his own eys, Prov. 16, 2if his own Thoughts may but be his Iudges.and 21, 2
Solution Not what Thoughts we have of our ſelves, but in our ſelves,Why all this is true; yet all that hath been ſaid before true alſo, We never ſaid that every mans Caſe is, as his thoughts are of himſelf, but yet by his thoughts that are In himſelf, he may come to diſcover his own ſtate. For if a man Think himſelf to be ſomething, (ſaith the Apoſtle) when he is nothing, Gal. 6 3.4he deceiveth himſelf. But yet let every man prove his own works and then he ſhall have rejoicing In himſelf alone, and not in another. This he ſpeaks in reſpect of Sincerity, not of Righteouſneſs, or Juſtification in the fight of God, for of the latter he ſaith we rejoyce onelyonly in Ieſus, and have no other Confidence; Philip. 3.3But as to the former,2 Cor. 2, 12 this is our rejoycing, even the testimony of our Conſcience, that in ſimplicity and godly ſincerity, &c. ſo alſo he that believes on the ſon of God, hath the witneſs In himſelf.1 John 5, 10
Nay in as much as the Apoſtle condemns him for a ſelf deceiver, who is in ſome reſpect the worſt kind of deceiver (as ſelf Murther is the worſt kind of Murther, that thinks himſelf to be ſomething when he is nothing; even this makes it evident, that his high thoughts of himſelf were evidences against himſelf, had he but rightly conſidered them.
Sect. II.
VVHereas, Reader,Self ſuſpition a better ſign than high thoughts of our ſelves on the other hand if thou be but honeſt in what …hou pretendeſt, and not Hypo…ritically humble tongued, as many men are, when thou complaineſt …f thy ſelf, and declareſt thy jea…ous thoughts that thou haſt of thine own heart; Here is ſomething like a token for good; For even right jealouſy falls much in with that Carefulneſs, Indignation; Fear, Cor. 7, 1&c. that were approved ſignes of goldy ſincerity. But and if it be thus with thee, right gladly wilt thou go along with me in the following particulers, and ſay as David, Pſalm 139 1, 2, 23O Lord thou haſt ſearched me, and known me, and thou underſtandeſt my thoughts afar off; and yet again, ſearch me O God, and know my heart, try me and know my thoughts; Search me, O ſearch me, thou bleſſed word of God, that canſt not lie; Thou Meſſenger of Chriſt that dareſt not flatter me, O try me and know my Thoughts. Thou wilt receive God ſpies with peace (as Rahab did) yea wilt willingly lend me the Candle of thine own Conſcience to hold to thee,Hebr, 11, 31 Lend Gods ſervants the Lords candle. whilſt we are together ſearching the ſecrets of thy own ſoul; for the ſpirit of man is the Candle of the Lord ſearching all the inward parts of the belly. Pro: 20.27 Conſcience to ſearch thee by:And the reaſon why ſo many Hearers and Readers of the moſt ſearching Books and Sermons, are yet ignorant of, or miſtaken in themſelves, is becauſe they deny the Lords ſervants the Lords Candle to do his work by.