4. And, lastly, It is of special use to a Christian under sufferings, inasmuch as it enables him to repel the temptations that attend upon sufferings. Nothing sets a keener edge upon his indignation against unworthy compliances, than this. Indeed a poor cloudy and dubious Christian will be apt to catcli at deliverance, though upon terms dis- honourable to Christ ; but he that is clear in point of interest, abhors compositions and cajjitulations upon unworthy terms and conditions, Heb. xi. 35. and x. 34. He that sees the gain and reward of suffer- ing, will think he is offered to his loss, when life and deliverance arc set before him upon such hard terms as sin is.
And thus you see what influence it hath into a suffering condi- tion.
III. In the next place I promised to prescribe some rules for the attaining of this evidence, and the dispelling of those doubts by which it is usually clouded in the souls of believers. And oh, that by the faithful use of them you may attain it, against a suffering day come upon you.
1. Rule. And the first rule I shall give you is this, make it your business to improve grace more ; for the more vigorous it is, the more
40 PitEPARATIONS FOR SUFFERINGS ; OR,
evidential \i must needs be, 2 Pet. i. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. Oh ho^^ much time have many Christians spent in inquiring after the lowest signs of sincerity, and what may consist with grace ? Which had tliey spent in the dihgent improvements of the means of grace, for the in- creasing of it, they would have found it a shorter cut to peace and comfort by much.
2. Rule. Mistake not the rule by which you are to try yourselves, lest you give a false judgment upon yourselves. Some are apt to make those things signs of grace, which are not ; and when the false- ness of them is detected, how is that poor soul plunged into doubts and fears, that leaned upon them ? As now, if a man should con- clude his sincerity from his diligence in attending on the word pMpach- ed ; this is but a parahgisni, (as the a}x>stle calls it,) Jam. i. 22. By ■which amandeceiveth his own soul; For that which is a note or mark, must be proper to the thing notified, and not common to any thing else. There are divers sorts o^maj'hs ; some are exclusive, the princi- pal use of which is to convince bold pretenders, and discover hypo- crites ; such is that, 1 Cor. ix. 9- It is a most certain sign where these are, there is no grace ; but yet it will not follow on the contrary, that where these are not, there is no grace. See Luke xviii. 11. Others are inclusive, the use of which is not so much for trying of the trutli, as the strength and degrees of grace. As now, when faith is described by the radiancy of it, or by some of its heroic acts, and pro- mises made to some raised degrees and operations of it ; as that, Eph. iii. 12. &c. here a mistake is easilv made. Besides those, or rather betv,'ixt these, are another sort of marks, which are called positive marks ; and these agreeing in the lowest degree of grace, are for the trial of the truth and sincerity of it. Such are these, 1 John iv. 13. 1 John ii. 3. IMatth. v. 3. Be sure to try by a proper mark.
3. Rule. Take heed of such sins as violate and waste the consci- ence ; for these will quickly raise a mist, and involve the soul in clouds and darkness, Psal. li. 8, Sec. Such are sins against light, and the reclamations of conscience.
3. Rule. Labour to shun those common mistakes that Christians make in judging of their state ; among which I shall select these five as principal ones.
1. Call not your condition into question upon every failing and in- voluntary lapse into sin. " Iniquities prevail against me, as for our '' transgressions, thou shalt purge them away,*' Psal. Ixv. 3. In short, thou needest not call thy condition into question, provided thou find thy spirit working as Paul's did under the surprizals of temptations : viz. If, (1.) Thou do approve of and delight in the law, though thou fall short of it in thy practice, Rom. vii. 12, 14. (2.) If thy failings be involuntary, and against the resolution and bent of thy soul, ver. 15, 18, 19. (3.) If it be the load and burden of thy soul, ver. 24 (4.) If the thoughts of deliverance comfort thee, ver. 25.
% Question not the truth of thy grace, because it was not wrought
THE BEST WOllJ; IN THE WORST TIMES.
In the same way and manner in thee, as in others: For there is a great variety,, as to the circumstances of time and maimer, betwixt the Spirit's operations upon one and another. Compare the history of Paul's conversion with that of the Jailor, Zaccheus, or Lydia, and see the variety of circumstances.
3. Conclude not that you have no grace, because you feel not those transports and ravishing joys that other Christians speak of. If thou canst not say as Paul doth,*Rom. viii. 38. yet bless God, if thou canst but breathe forth such language as that, Mark ix. 24. " Lord, I " believe, help thou my unbelief'"'
4. Say not thou hast no grace, because of the high attainments of some hypocrites, who in some things may excel thee. When some persons read the sixth chapter to the Hebrews, they are startled to see to what a glorious height the hypocrite may soar ; not considering that there are these three things wherein they excel the most glorious hypocrite in the world. (1.) That self was never dethroned in hypo- crites, as it is in them. All that an hypocrite doth is for himself. (2.) The hypocrite never hated every sin, as he doth ; but hath still some Agag, Rimmon, or Dehlah. (3.) That the hypocrite never acted in duty from the bent and inchnation of a new nature, taking delight in heavenly employment, but is moved rather as a clock by the weight and poises of some external motives and advantages.
5. Conclude not you have no grace, because you grow not so sen- sibly as some other Christians do. You may be divers ways mistaken about this. (1.) You may measure your growth by your desires, and then it appears nothing ; for the Christian aims high, and grasps at all. (2.) Or by comparing yourselves with such as have larger capa- cities, time, and advantages than you. (3.) Or by comparing your graces with other men's gifts, which you mistake for their graces. (4.) Or by thinking that all growth is upward in joy, peace, and com- fort ; whereas you may grow in mortification and humility, which is as true a growth as the former. Oh ! take heed of these mistakes ; they have been very prejudicial to the peace of many Christians.
5. Rule. Lastly, DecUne not sufferings when God gives you a fair callto them. Oh ! the Christian's suffering timeis commonly his clear- est and most comfortable time. " Then the Spirit of God and glory resteth on them," 1 Pet. iv. 14. That which hath been in suspense for some years, is decide^l and cleared in a suffering hour. And thus I have shewed you how to attain this necessary qualification also.