The Spiritual Touchstone, Chapter 1 – Chapter 2
CHAP. I.
Deſcribing the godly man by ſuch ſignes as diſcouer him to the obſeruation of other men.
THe ſignes of the tru Chriſtian that hath true grace in this world, and ſhall be ſaued in heauen whē he dies, may be caſt into two Catalogues. TheTwo Catalogues of ſignes. one more briefe: the other more large. The one Catalogue of ſignes deſcribe him by ſuch markes, as for the moſt part do outwardly diſtinguiſh him amongſt men. The large Catalogue I intend eſpecially as a more infallible and effectuall way of triall, as cōtaining ſuch ſignes as for the moſt part are not obſerued by other men, or not fully, but are knowne to himſelfe, and can be found in no reprobate.
For the firſt Catalogue: The ſhorter Catalogue handled in this Chapter.The true Chriſtian vſually diſcouers himſelfe by theſe marks.
Firſt, he will not hauehave 1. He auoids the companie of the wicked.fellowſhip with the vnfruitful works of darknes; he will not walke in the counſell of the wicked, nor ſtand in the way of ſinners. He will not ſort himſelfe with workers of iniquitie. Pſal. 1. 1. & 26. 2. Cor. 6.
Secondly, he will afflict2. He is ſorrowfull for his ſinne. & humble his ſoule for his ſinnes, mourning and weeping for them, till the Lord be pleaſed to ſhew merciemercy and forgiue him. He doth account his ſinnes to be his greateſt burthen. He cannot make a mocke of ſinne, &c.
Thirdly, he labours3. He is throughly reformed in conuerſation. to be holy in all parts of his conuerſation, watching ouer his owne waies at all times, and in all companies. Pſal. 50. 23. Eſa. 56. 8. 2. Pet. 3.
Fourthly, he makes4. He maketh conſcience of leſſer ſins as well as greater. conſcience of the leaſt commandements as wel as the greateſt, auoiding filthy ſpeaking, and vain ieſting, and laſciuiouſneſſe, as well as whoredome: leſſer oathes as well as the greater; reprochful ſpeeches as wel as violent actions, &c.
Fiftly, he loues and5. He loues preaching. eſteemes, and labours for the powerfull preaching of the word, aboue all earthly treaſures.
Sixtly, he honours6. He eſteems the godly aboue all men. and highly accounts of the godly, and delights in the companie of ſuch as truly feare God, aboue all others. Pſal. 15.
Seuenthly, he is carefull7. He is carefull of the ſanctification of the Sabbath. of the ſanctification of the Sabbath; neither daring to violate that holy reſt by labour, nor to neglect the holy duties belonging to Gods ſeruice publicke or priuate. Eſa. 56. and 58.
Eightly, he loues not8. He is not in louelove with the world. the world, neither the things thereof, but is more heartily affected in things that concerne a better life, and ſo doth in ſome degree louelove the appearing of Chriſt.
Ninthly, He is eaſie 9. He loues his enemies.to be intreated, he can forgiue his enemies, deſires peace, and will do good euen to them, that perſecute him, if it lye in his power: Math. 5.
Tenthly, he goeth10. He is conſtant in good courſes, though oppoſed. on in the profeſſion of the ſincerity of the Goſpell, and doth ſuch duties as he knoweth God requires of him in buſineſſes of his ſoule, notwithſtanding the oppoſitions of prophane perſons, or the diſlike of carnall friends, &c.
Eleuenthly, he ſetteth11. He ſerues God in his family. vp a daily courſe of ſeruing of God, and that with his family too, if he hauehave any; and exerciſeth himſelfe in the word of God, as the chiefe ioy of his heart, and the daily refuge of his life, calling vponupon God continually, &c.
CHAP. II.
Shewing the generall diuiſion of the Signes, and the ways how the ſignes were found out.
THus of the ſhorter Catalogue of ſignes: Now it followes, that I proceed to thoſe infallible marks of Election, and ſaluation. And whereas I hauehave diuers yeares ſince publiſhed a Treatiſe which I called Eſſayes, or ſignes of God louelove, and mans ſaluation: Hauing obſeruedThe occaſion of this Treatiſe. that diuers hauehave accounted the manner of ſetting the ſignes downe ſomewhat obſcure in diuers parts of the booke, I will now by Gods aſſiſtance, for the helping of the weakeſt Chriſtians in this Treatiſe, endeuour to expreſſe my ſelfe in this doctrine of the triall of a true Chriſtians eſtate in a more plaine and eaſie courſe of examination; and leaue both the former treatiſe, and his new Catalogue vntounto the bleſſing of God, and the free choice of the godly reader of vſe, which he findeth moſt agreeable to his owne taſte, being both ſuch as are warranted & founded vponupon the infallible euidence of Gods vnchangeable truth.
In this proiect then I conſider of the triall ofThe ſignes referred to ſixe heads. a true Chriſtian ſixe wayes.
Firſt, in his humiliation.
Secondly, in his faith.
Thirdly, in the gifts of his mind, with which he is qualified.
Fourthly, in the workes of his obedience.
Fiftly, in the entertainment he hath from God.
Sixtly, in the manner of his receiuing of the Sacraments.
In all which he differs from all the wicked men in the world, ſo as neuer any wicked man could find theſe things in his condition, which are true of the weakeſt Chriſtian in each of theſe ſignes.
And that the true Chriſtian may not doubt of his eſtate, hauing found theſe ſignesThe infallibilitie of the ſignes. in himſelfe, let him conſider the proofes annexed to each ſigne: & that nothing may be wanting to his aboundant conſolation, I will tell him, how I found out thoſe ſignes, and by what grounds I proceeded.
There are three ſorts3. Wayes to find out the ſignes of a godly man in Scripture. of places in Scripture (as I cōceiue) which do point out the grounds of infallible aſſurance in thoſe that can attaine vntounto them: as firſt, ſuch places as expreſly do affirme, that ſuch and ſuch things are ſignes: As for example 1. Iohn 3. 14. Hereby we know, that we are tranſlated from death to life, becauſe we louelove the brethren. Here the holy Ghoſt ſhews vsus expreſly, that the louelove of the brethren is a ſigne, by which a Chriſtian may know, that he is tranſlated from death to life: & ſo the Apoſtle Paul giues ſignes to know, whether their ſorrow were after God, or no. 2. Cor. 7. 11. So doth the Prophet Dauid, Pſal. 15. giuegive diuers ſignes, by which the man that ſhal dwell in Gods holy hill, may be knowne. So the Apoſtle Iames tels vsus, how we may know the wiſedome from aboue, by reckning the fruites and effects of it. Iam. 3. 17. So doth the Apoſtle Paul tell vsus, how we may know, whether we hauehave the Spirit of Chriſt in vsus or no, Rom. 8. 9. 15. &c. Gal. 5. 22. & 4. 6. 7.
Secondly, I find out ſignes, by marking, what graces in man the promiſes of God are made vntounto; for thus I reaſon: Whatſoeuer gifts of God in man brings him within the compaſſe of Gods promiſes of eternall merciemercy: that gift muſt be an infallible ſigne of ſaluation. But ſuch are ſuch and ſuch gifts, as the inſtances in diuers Scriptures ſhew: And therefore the man that can find thoſe gifts in himſelfe, ſhall be certainly ſaued. As for example: The kingdome of heauen is promiſed to ſuch as are poore in ſpirit, Math. 5. 4. From thence then I gather, that pouertie of ſpirit is an infallible ſigne. The like I may ſay of the louelove of the word, and of vprightneſſe of heart, and of the louelove of God, and the louelove of the appearing of Chriſt, &c.
Thirdly, I find out other ſignes by obſeruing what godly men in Scripture hauehave ſaid for themſelues, when they hauehave pleaded their owne euidence for their intereſt in Gods louelove, or their hope of a better life. For look how godly men in Scripture hauehave proued that they were not hypocrites: euen ſo may any Chriſtiā proue that he is not an hypocrite neither. As for example, Iob being charged to be an hypocrite, and lying vnderunder the heauy hand of God, pleades his cauſe, and proues that he was not an hypocrite, by his conſtancie in Gods wayes, and by his conſtant eſtimation of Gods word, and deſire after it, as after his appointed food, Iob 23. 10. 11. 12. More of this kind thou maiſt find in the proofes of particular ſignes.
Now whereas ſome ſignes are generall, and thou mightſt doubt of ye expoſition, namely how that ſigne is infallible in ſuch & ſuch ſences: For thy eſtabliſhment herein, thou mayſt obſerue, that I expoūd the ſigne as it is expounded in other ſeuerall Scriptures. As for example: The louelove of the brethren, is a generall ſigne. Now how ſhall I know that I hauehave the right louelove of the brethren? This I explane by flying to diuers other Scriptures, wherein the particular explications of this ſigne are pleaded.