Ans. 1. Tears in the wicked do not spring from love to God, but are forced by afflic- tion, Gen. iv. 13., as water that drops from the still is forced by the fire. The tears of sinners are forced by God's fiery judgments. 2. They are deceitful tears, — lucrijmce men- tiri doc/ce. Men weep, yet go on in sin ; they do not drown their sins in their tears.
(4.) Men have begun some reformation, therefore sure now the kinrrdom of urace is come. But there may be deceit in this : \st. A man may leave his oaths and drun- kenness, yet still be in love with sin ; he may leave his sin out of fear of hell, or be- cause it brings shame and penury, but still his heart goes after it, Hos. iv. 8., " They set their hearts on their iniquity ;" as Lot's wife left Sodom, but still her heart was in Sodom. Hypocrites are like the snake which casts her coat, but keeps her poison ; they keep the love of sin, as one that hath been long suitor to another, though his friends break off the match, yet still he hath a hankering love to her. 2d. It may be a partial reformation ; he mciy leave off one sin, and live in another ; lie may re- frain drunkenness, and live in covetous- ness ; he may refrain swearing, and live in the sin of slandering; one devil may be cast out, and another as bad may come in his room. Sd. A man may forsake gross sins, but have no reluctancy against heart- sins; 7notus prima primi, — proud, lustful thoughts; though he dams up the stream, he lets alone the fountain. O therefore if there be so many deceits, and men may think the kingdom of grace is come into their hearts when it is not, how curious and critical had we need be in our search whe- ther we have the kingdom of grace really come into our hearts ! If a man be deceived
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in tlie title of his Jand, it is but the loss of his estate : but if he be deceived about his grace, it is the loss of his soul. I should now come to answer this question, how may we know that the kingdom of grace is set up in our hearts ?
Quest. How may we know the kingdom of grace is set up in us ?
Ans. 1. In general, by having a metamor- phosis or change wrought in the soul ; this is called ' the new creature,' 2 Cor. v. 17. The faculties are not new, but there is a new nature ; as the strings of a lute are the same, but the tune is altered. When the kingdom of grace is set up, there is light in the mind, — order in the affections, — plia- bleness of the will, — tenderness in the con- science ; such as can find no change of heart, they are the same as they were, as vain, as earthly, as unclean as ever; there is no sign of God's kingdom of grace in them.
A. 2. More particularly we may know the kingdom of grace is set up in our hearts: 1st. By having unfeigned desires after God ; this is the smoking flax Christ will not quench. A true de&ire of grace is grace; by the beating of this pulse, conclude there is life, Neh. i. 11., " O Lord let now thy ear be attentive to the prayers of thy servants who desire to fear thy name !" But may not an hypocrite have good desires ? Num. xxiii. 10., " Let me die the death of the righteous." Therefore, I say, unfeigned desires evidence the kingdom of God u ith- in a man.
Quest. But how mag these unfiigned de- sires be knoicn ?
Ans. 1. An unfeigned desire is ingenu- ous ; we desire God propter se, — for him- self,— for his intrinsieal excellencies, and the oriency of his beauty which shines, — the savour of Christ's ointments, that is, his graces, draws the virgins' desires after him. Cant. i. 3. A true saint desires Christ, not only for what he hath, but for what he is ; not only for his rewards, but for his jioli- ness. No hypocrite can thus desire (iod; he may desire him for his jewels, but not for his beauty.
A. 2. An unfeigned desire is insatiable, it cannot be satisfied without God ; let iho world heap her honours and riches, they
will not satisfy. Not flowers or music will content him who is thirsty; nothing will quench the soul's thirst but the blood of Christ ; he faints away, his heart breaks with longing for God, Ps. Ixxxiv. 2. and cxix. 20.
A. 3. An unfeigned desire is active, it flourisheth into endeavour, Isa. xxvi. 9., " With my soul have I desired thee in the night, yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early." A soul that desires aright saith, " Christ I must have, grace I must have ; I will have heaven, though I take it by storm." He who desires water, will let down the bucket into the well to draw it up.