XIII. Thirteenthly, Consider you onust never judge yourselves un- sound, or hypocrites, by those things which the Scripture never makes a character of an unsound. Christian, or of an hypocrite, or of hypo- crisy} Mark, as you are to receive no comfort, but what is backed with clear scripture, nor no evidences for the goodness and happiness of your spiritual estate and condition, but such as are backed with clear scrip- tures ; so you are to receive, you are to admit of no arguments, nor pleas, nor reasonings, to prove yourself an hypocrite, or unsound, or that you have no grace, or that your spiritual estate and condition is not good, but such arguments, pleas, and reasonings, as are backed with clear scriptures. Now tell me, O thou weak, doubting, staggering, trembling Christian, if thou canst, where are those clear scriptures that proves wandering thoughts in duty, or that proves narrowness or strait- ness of spirit in a duty, to be characters of an hypocrite, or of hypocrisy, or of one that is unsound ? Tell me, O thou sighing Christian, if thou canst, where are those clear scriptures that proves the want of a good memory for the best things, or the want of those gifts or abilities that many Chris- tians have, to pray, to speak, to discourse, to open Scripture, or to dis- pute for the concernments of Christ and his kingdom, to be characters of an hypocrite or of hypocrisy, or of one that is unsound ? Tell me, O thou distressed Christian, if thou canst, where are those clear scrip- tures that will justify thee to conclude that thou art an hypocrite, be- cause thou art without the present evidence of thy sincerity ? Are there
' The grand rule by which we must try and judge of our spiritual and eternal estates, is the word of God, Isa. viii. 20. In this scripture the prophet plainly shews whither we must go with our doubts, fears, scruples, questions, and with whom we must cousult, and oi whom we must take advice ; and that is ' the law and the testimony.'
298 A CABINET OF JEWELS. [ChAP. I.
not many of the precious sons and daughters of Zion, comparable to fine gold, Lam. iv. 2, who have true grace and sincerity in their hearts, though for the present it be hid from their eyes ? Isa. 1. 10, 1 John V. ] 3. Joseph's brethren had their money in their sacks, though they did not see it, nor know it till they came to their inn and opened them, Gen. xliv. So many of the dear children of God have sincerity in their hearts, though for the present they do not see it nor know it. O sirs ! it is Christ's work, not grace's, to evidence itself so clearly and fully to our eyes, as to enable us to own it. It is one thing for the Spirit of God to work grace in the soul, and another thing for the Spirit to shine upon his own work. Now, till the Spirit shines upon his own work, the soul is in the dark. The graces of the Spirit are best seen in the light of the Spirit, as we see the sun best by his own light, 1 Cor. ii. 12. It is good for doubting Christians when they are in the dark, to hold fast this conclusion, viz., that they may be upright, though at present they are not able to see their uprightness. Now, though this will not bring in a full tide of comfort into their souls, yet it will keep them from despair, and it will support and uphold their hearts, till the Spirit, who is a messenger of a thousand, shall shew them their upright- ness. Tell me, O thou mourning Christian, if thou canst, where are those clear scriptures that proves deadness, dulness, and iudisposedness in duty, though it be sadly lamented, bewailed, and mourned over, and much striven against, yea, though it be the great grief and burden of the soul, to be characters of hypocrites, or of hypocrisy, or of one that is unsound ? Tell me, O thou disquieted Christian, if thou canst, where are those clear scriptures that proves the want of those enlarge- ments, ravishments, joys, comforts, peace, or assurance that some others have, to be characters of hypocrites or hypocrisy, or of one that is un- sound ? And yet, upon the account of the above mentioned things on the one hand, and under a sensible want of the things last cited on the other hand, how exceeding apt and prone are many poor weak, doubt- ing, trembling Christians, confidently and peremptorily to conclude themselves to be hypocrites, and to be unsound, and that they have not a dram of grace, nor no saving interest in Christ at all ! 0 sirs ! remem- ber this once for all, that as you must never admit of any arguments, pleas, or reasonings, for the comfort, peace, and refreshment of your souls, but such as are attended with the evidence of clear Scripture, but such as are backed with pregnant scriptures, so you must never admit of any pleas, arguments, or reasonings, to trouble, vex, perplex, and dis- quiet the peace of your souls, but such as are attended with clear Scrip- ture evidence, but such as are well backed with canonical Scripture.' Now if this choice rule were but wisely observed, and carefully, fre- quently, and conscientiously practised by many weak, doubting, trem- bling Christians, how would it set them at liberty from their fears, doubts, and misgivings of heart ! how would it knock off all their chains, and wipe all tears from their eyes, and remove that sadness that
• In all soul cases, God expects we sliould consult his word, and cleave to his word, without warpinj^ or turning aside either to the riglit hand or to the left. John xii. 48 : That book that shall try you at last, and that shall save you or damn you in the preat day, is the only book by which you must make a judgment of your present and future estates. Clemens of Alexandria, speaking of the word, saith, It is the touchstouo of truth and falsehood.
Chap. I.] a cabinet of jewels. 299