4. Fourthly, Consider that there are very many that deceive them- selves about their spiritual estates. It is the easiest thing in the world for a man to deceive himself, Job xv. 34, and Pro v. xxx. 12. There are those that do but think that they stand, (1 Cor. x. 12,) and these at last come to fall from their seeming standing into a real hell — yea, from their highest standing into the lowest hell. There are many that think themselves to be something, when they are nothing, Gal. vi. 3. There are many that have a form of godliness, but none of the power, 2 Tim. iii. 8. There are many that have a name to live, but are dead, Rev. iii. 1. There are many that are very confident of their in- tegrity, and yet are full of horrible hypocrisy. There are many that
* Job xxxi. 6, 6 } Pa. xxvi. 2 ; cxxxiz. 23, 24 j Mat. xii. 20. « Aa before.— G.
HeB. XII. 14.] AND BEAUTY OF HOLINESS. 99
carry the lamps of profession, that have no oil of grace in their hearts. There are many that take a good nature for grace, civility for sanctity, and a garb of godliness for real holiness — ^yea, there are those who dare say that they excel others in holiness, when, in truth, they ex- ceed most men in wickedness i — yea, there are many now in hell who have had a great confidence of going to heaven. There are many that cry out with Agag, ' Surely the bitterness of death is past,' wrath is past, and hell is past, and damnation is past, whenas vengeance is ready to fall on them, and hell stands gaping to devour them. The heart of man is full of self-love, full of self-flattery, and full of hy- pocrisy, and therefore many a man who is only a Jew outwardly, thinks himself to be a Jew inwardly, Eom. ii. 28, 29. Many a man thinks himself to be as good a Christian as the best, and to be as happy as the best, and to be as fair for heaven as the best, till he comes to hear that tormenting word, ' Depart, I know ye not.' As many are kept off from Christ by a conceit that they have him already, so many are kept off from holiness by a conceit that they have it already. And therefore it doth very much concern you to make a diligent inquiry whether you have that holiness without which there is no happiness, or no. I have read of Plato, that when he did walk in the streets, if he saw any disordered in speech, disguised in drink, or otherwise out of frame, he would say to himself, Num ego talis? — Am I such a one as this is ? Am I such a swearer as this is ? Am I such a drunkard as this is ? Am I such a wanton as this is ? Am I such a riotous person as this ? &c. So should every Christian say when he hears of any that doth but think that they stand, Num ego talis? — Am I such a one as this is ? When he sees one that thinks himseK something when he is nothing, he should say, Am I such a one as this is ? When he sees a man to have a form of godliness, but no power, he should say, Am I such a one as this is ? When he hears of a man that hath a name to live, but is spiritually dead, he should say, Am I such a one as this is ? &c. And when he hears or reads of one that is really holy, he should say, Am I such a one as this is ? As you would not put a cheat upon your own souls, it highly concerns you to try whether you have real holiness or no. Look, as many young children catch many a fall out of a strong conceit of their abilities to go, so many a man, out of a strong conceit that he hath holiness when he hath none, catches many a fall in an eternal fall at last. The best way to prevent an everlasting miscarriage, is to make a privy search after holiness in thine own heart.
5. Fifthly, Consider that there is a great deal of counterfeit grace and holiness in the world. There is not more counterfeit coin this day in the world than there is counterfeit holiness in the world. Look, as many Bristows2 stones, and counterfeit gems, do so shine and sparkle like true jewels, that if a man be not very careful he may be easily cheated; so counterfeit grace, counterfeit holiness, doth so shine and sparkle, they do so nearly resemble real holiness, and the sanctifying and saving graces of the Spirit, that a man may be easily mistaken, if he do not make a narrow search. Doth the gracious soul
1 Isa. ix. 17, xxix. 13; Jer. vii. 4, 8-11; Kev. iii 16-18; Iaa.lxy. 2-5; Mat xxv. 'Query ' Bristol" ?—G.
100 THE NECESSITY, EXCELLENCY, RARITY, [HeB. XII. li.