Obs. 1. You see here, then, first of all, in this correction, that a Christian hath two principles in him, that which is good, and that which is evil, whence issueth the weakness of his actions and afiections. They are all mixed, as are the principles from which they come forth.
Cant. V. 2.] * i sleep, but my heakt waketh.' 47
Ohs. 2. We may observe, further, that a Christian man may know how it is with himself. Though he be mixed of flesh and spirit, he hath a distinguish- ing knowledge and judgment whereby he knows both the good and evil in himself. In a dungeon where is nothing but darkness, both on the eye that should see and on that which should be seen, he can see nothing ; but "where there is a supernatural piinciple, where there is this mixtm'e, there the light of the Spirit searcheth the dark comers of the heai-t. A man that hath the Spirit knoweth both ; he knoweth himself and his own heart. The Spirit hath a light of its own, even as reason hath. How doth reason know what it doth ? By a reflect act inbred in the soul. Shall a man that is natural reflect upon his state, and know what he knows, what he thinks, what he doth, and may not the soul that is raised to an higher estate know as much ? Undoubtedly it may. Besides, we have the Spirit of God, which is light, and self-evidencing. It shews unto us where it is, and what it is. The work of the Spirit may sometimes be hindered, as in times of temptation. Then I confess a man may look wholly upon coiTup- tion, and so mistake himself in judging by that which he sees present in himself, and not by the other principle which is concealed for a time from him. But a Christian, when he is not in such a temptation, he knows his own estate, and can distinguish between the principles in him of the flesh and spirit, grace and natm-e.
Again, we see here in that the church saith, ' but my heart waketh,' that she doth acknowledge there is good as well as evil. As the church is in- genious* to confess that which is amiss, ' I sleep,' so she is as true in con- fessing that which is good in herself, ' but my heart waketh,' which yields us another observation.
Obs. 3. We should as well acknowledge that which is good as that which is evil in our hea)is.
Because we must not bear false witness, as not against others, much less against ourselves. Many help Satan, the accuser, and plead his cause against the Spirit, their comforter, in refusing to see what God seeth in them. We must make conscience of this, to know the good as well as the evil, though it be never so httle.
To come in particular, what is that good the church here confesseth, when she saith that ' her heart waketh ? '
(1.) She in her sleepy estate, yirs?, hath her judgment sound in that which is tnith, of persons, things, and courses. Christians are not so benighted when they sleep, or given up to such a reprobate judgment, as that they dis- cern not diflerences. They can discern that such are in a good way, and such are not ; that such means are good, and such are not. A Cln-istian oft- times is forced to do work out of judgment, in case his afiectious are asleep or distracted ; and such works are approved of God, as they come from a right judgment and conviction, though the evil of them be chastised.
(2.) But all is not in the judgment. The child of God asleep hath a working in the will. Choosing the better part, which he \s-ill cleave to, he hath a general purpose ' to please God in all things,' and no settled pur- pose m particular for to sleep. Thus answerable to his judgment, there- fore, he chooseth the better part and side ; he owns God and his cause, even in evil times, cleaving in resolution of heart to the best ways, though with weakness.
Take David in his sleepy time between his repentance and his foul sin. If one should have asked him what he thought of the ways of God and of * That is, ' ingenuous.' — G.
48 BOWELS OPENED. [SeRMON IV.
the contrary, he would have given you an answer out of sound judgment thus and thus. If you should have asked him what course he would have followed in his choice, resolution, and purpose, he would have answered savourly.
(3.) Again, there remaineth affection ansiverahle to their judgment, which, though they find, and feel it not for a time, it being perhaps scattered, yet there is a secret love to Christ, and to his cause and side, joined with joy in the welfare of the church and people of God ; rejoicing in the prosperity of the righteous, with a secret grief for the contrary. The pulses will beat this way, and good afiections will discover themselves. Take him in his sleepy estate, the judgment is sound in the main, the will, the affections, the joy, the delight, the sorrow. This is an evidence his heart is awake.