Arg. 4. Those that are most deeply humbled, and do most fer- vently intercede for Zion now, shall have a peculiar share in her joy when the Lord restores it: " When the Lord turned again the " captivity of Sion, we Avere like them that dreamed, then was " our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing.'^ Psal. cxxvi. 1, 2. But who were these that laugh and rejoice at Sion's mercy ? Were they not such as had mourned for her ; yes, yes, they that thus reap in joy, are such as had before sown in tears, ver. 5, 6. to such indeed tlie promise is made, Isa. Ivii. 18. and Ixvi. 10. Rejoice for joy with her all ye that mourn for her. Let these things affect your souls.
COUNSEL VIIL That seeing a da?/ of great trcnhle is approac?tivg, and all ovtzcard comforts ready to iaJce their farewell of yon, you should now give all dil'fgencc to clear up your title to Christy and interest in that kingdom ^hipJi cannot be shaJcen.
If ever we had need to make all honest haste to heaven, and to clear up our interest in it, this is the time ; what have we bcr sides this to oppose to all our troubles here ? what will you do when all earthly comforts are fled.'* And are they not upon the wing .'* When it comes to resisting to bloodj and giving up all, can you fadge with such work as this, while your spirits are dubious and cloudy in this point ? 0 my friends believe it, it is nothing but
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this that can make a saint triumph and glory in abuses and tribula- tions, % Cor. iv. 16, 17, 18. Heb. x. 34. Rom. v. 1, % 3. And little do you imagine how insupportable troubles are, when tlie spirit is low and dubious in point of interest. The devil, Uke a true coward, falls upon a poor saint, when he is prostrate in his spi- rit, and under trouble, then he pours in discouragements from all hands ; lie loves to fall upon them, as Simeon and Levi did upon the Shechemites when they were sore, Gen. xxxiv. 25. Satan knows men will hardly part with their present sensible comforts till they be assured of better : it is easier, without doubt, for an as- sured Christian to lay down his neck for Christ, than far another to part with a piece of his estate, or bear a reproach for him : and truly whether we consult safety or comfort, whether we consider the ineffable sweetness of that peace and joy begotten by assurance ; or the misery of being subjected in a day of trouble to the misgiv- ings, doubts, and fears of a perplexed spirit, you will find that all these considerations do put a necessity, a solemnity, a glory upon this work : but O the difficulties and dangers attending it ! what judgment, faithfulness, resolution, watchfulness doth it require! such is the darkness, deceitfulness, inconstancy of the heart ; and such the malice, policy, and diligence of Satan to improve these, that he vvho attempts this work, had need both to watch his seasons for it, frequently to look up to God for guidance and illumination ; and to spend many sad and serious thoughts before he determine this business.
To the end therefore, that this most weighty and important work may not miscarry in thy hands, I entreat thee carefully to ob« serve these six Directions following.
Be sure thou try thyself by sound, approved marks of sincerity, and not by such as are only probable, and common to hypocrites, for these will fail when any stress is laid upon tliem, and, like the reeds of Egypt, pierce into thine hand.
To help thee therein, I havo collected the best scripture-marks illustrated and prepared for thy use, by the labours of some of our most skilful heart anatomists : The substance of which I shall here transcribe, lest you should not have the books at hand.
Four signs of a sincere lieart, hy Mr. Gurnal, in tli^ second part of his treatise 07i Eph. vi. p. 127, &c.
1 Mark. A sincere heart is a nezo heart, Ezek. xi. 19. whereas it was formerly divided among the creatures, now it is gathered unto God : it hath but one design, which above all it pursues ; and that is to approve itself to God ; as one that having many pieces of old silver lying by him, which he intends to put into cue bowl ; he first resolves to cast it anew, and to that end throws it into the fire to melt, and so at last shuts up all in one piece.
554 ANTIPHARMACUM SALUBERRIMUM.
2 Marli. A sincere heart is a simple plain heart; 2 Cor. i. 12. and this simpHcity appears in three things. (1.) In ransacking it- self, in which it is exceeding dihgent, and fearful of a mistake, willing to know the worst of himself; in judging itself, when the sin is found, he proceeds to sentence a lust, as well as to search di- ligently for it. (2.) In plain-dealing with God, as well as with it- self: an hypocrite asks what he would not thank God to give him, but a sincere soul is deeply affected when his prayers are not an- swered, and uses the means to obtain his desires. (3.) In plain dealing with men, he will not subject his conscience to fleshly in- terest, nor shape his course to the times.
3 Marie. The sincere Christian is uniform ; and that, (1.) As to the object ; (2.) The subject ; (3.) The circumstances of his obe- dience. For the first, his heart lies close to the whole law of God, Psalm XX vi. 11. hath respect to all the commands: as for the sub- ject, the whole man (so far as renewed) moves one way: judg- ment, will, affections, move uniformly : as to circumstances, he is
holy in all times, places, &c.
4 Maj'k. The sincere Christian is progressive, is not content with any measure of grace, Phil. iii. 13, 15. never at his journey's end, till he get to heaven, Psal. xvii. 15.
Five marks of uprightness, hy Mr, Ohadiah Sedgwick, in his anatomy of uprightness, p. 202, &c.
1 Marie. If a man be upright, he will mostly strive for an in- ward refoniiation of his heart, Psal. cxix. 10. James iv. 8. Rom. i. 9. It is not sufficient his outward actions look well, unless his heart were better : Oh, saith he, that this heart were better, more holy, more humble, more believing ; the principal regard of the hypocrite is to externals.
2 Mark. If a man be upright, a Httle holiness will not serve his turn, Phil. iii. 12, 13, 14, 15.