That assurance is one of the great difficulties in religion, is a great truth ; but that it is therefore unattainable in this world, is \ery false. Popish doctrine indeed makes it impossible ; but that doc- trine is practicably confuted in the comfortable experience of many souls : all are commanded to strive for it, 2 Pet. i. 1 0. " Give all " diligence to make your calling and election sure :" and some have the happiness to obtain it, 2 Tim. i. 12. " For I know whom I " have believed : and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that *' which I have committed unto him against that day.
Let the similar works upon hypocrites resemble as much as they will the saving works of the Spirit upon believers ; yet God doth always, and the saints do sometimes plainly discern the difference.
Thirdly, Do not make this use of it, to conceal or hide the truths or graces of God, or to refuse to profess, or confess them before men, because many professors deceive themselves and others also, by a vain profession : Because another professeth what he hath not, must you therefore hide or deny what you have ? It is true, the posses- sion of grace and truth in your own souls, is that which saves you ; but the profession or confession of it, is that which honours God, and edifies ; yea, sometimes is the instrument to save others ; it is your comfort that you feel it, it is others comfort to know that you do so. Ostentation is your sin, but a serious and humble profession is your duty, Rom. x. 9.
Use 2. XX AVING shewed you in the former section what use you ought not to make of this doctrine, I will next shew you what use you ought to make of it ; and surely you cannot improve this point to a better pui'pose than from it to take warning, and look to your- selves, that you be not of that number who deceive themselves in their profession. If this be so, suffer me closely to press that great apostolical caution, 1 Cor. x. 12. " Let him that thinks he stands, " take heed lest he fall."''' O professors ! look carefully to your foun- dation ; be not high-minded, but fear. You have, it may be, done and suffered many things in and for religion ; you have excellent gifts and sweet comforts : a warm zeal for God, and high confidence of your integrity : All this may be right, (for ought I, or, it may be, you know :) but yet it is possible it may be false also : You have sometimes judged yourselves, and pronounced yourselves upright; but remember your final sentence is not yet pronounced by your Judge. And what if God weigh you over again in his more equal balance, and should say, Mene Tekel, thou art weighed in the balance and art found wanting : What a confounded man vv ilt thou be under such a sentence ! Quw splendent in conspectu hominis, sordcnt in conspectit Judicis : Things that are highly esteemed of men, are an abomination in the sight of God : he seeth not as man seeth.
5^6 A SOLEMN WARNING TO ALL PROFESSORS.
Thy heart may be false, and thou not know it ; yea, it may be false, and thou strongly confident of its integrity.
The saints may approve thee, and God condemn thee ; Rev. iii. 1. " Thou hast a name that thou livest, but thou art dead." Men may say, there is a true Nathaniel ; and God may say, there is a self-cozenino- Pharisee.
Reader, thou hast heard of Judas and Demas ; of Ananias and Sapphira ; of Hymeneus and Philetus ; once renowned and famous professors, and thou hast heard what they proved at last.
Take heed their case be not thine own ; do they not all, as it were with one mouth cry to thee, O professor ! if thou wilt not come where we are, do not cozen thyself as we did ; if thou expectest a better place and lot, be sure thou get a sincere heart : Had we been more self-suspicious, we had been more safe.
I would not scare you with needless jealousies, but I would fain prevent fatal mistakes. Do not you find your hearts deceitful in many things ? Do not you shuffle over secret duties ? Do not you censure the same evils in others, which you scarce reprove in your- selves ? Are there not many by-ends in duties ? Do not you find you are far less affected with a great deal of service and honour done to God by others, than with a little by yourselves ?
Is it not hard to look upon other men s excellencies without envy, or upon your own without pride ?
And are you not troubled with a busy devil, as well as with a bad heart ? Hath not he that circuits the whole world, observed vou ? Hath he not studied your constitution sins, and found out that sin which most easily besets you ? Hath he less malice against your souls than others ? Surely you are in the very thicket of temptations ; thousands of snares are round about you. O how difficultly are the righteous saved ! How hard to be upright ! How few even of the professing world win heaven at last !
O therefore search your hearts, professors, and let this caution go down to your very reins ; " Let him that thinks he stands, take " heed lest he fall?'
Away with rash uncharitable censures of others, and be more just and severe in censuring yourselves. Away with dry and unprofitable controversies, and spend your thoughts upon this great question. Am I sound, or am I rotten at heart ? Am I a new creature, or the old creature still in a new creature's dress and habit ? Beg the Lord that you be not deceived in that great point (your integrity) whatever you may be mistaken in. Pray that you be not given up to an heedless, careless, and vain spirit, and then have religious duties for a rattle, to still and quiet your consciences.
Surely that ground work can never be laid too sure, upon which so great a stress as thy soul and eternity must depend. It will not repent thee, I dare promise, when thou comest to die, that thou hast em- ployed thy time and strength to this end : Whilst others are panting
A SOLEMN WARNING TO ALL PROFESSORS. 52T
after the dust of the earth, and saying, Who will shew us any good? be thou panting after the assurance of the love of God, and crying. Who will shew me how to make my caUing and election sure?