Again, for the sins in good duties. Take heed in our best performances that we be not deceived in them. Poison is dangerously taken in sweet gloves, and in sweet things, because it is conveyed in sweetness ; and so in holy duties there is convej^ed pride and resting in them. Take heed, lest corruption mingle some deadly thing with our best performances.
The Corinthians came to the table of the Lord ; but because they thought the duty a good duty,* and that they might not sin in a good duty, they came hand over head, carelessly [unto itj.f Oh, but we see how God deals with them. And therefore, let us examine, in good duties and per- formances, with what minds we come, with what preparation, with what aims and ends [we perform them]. J Many thousands, we may fear, are damned even for good duties ; for § duties that are not ill in themselves, because they think they may be bold there, and put off the power of grace, and rest in common civil things, [even] || in outward performances. When ■we regard not the manner, God regards not the matter of the things we do,
* ' But because they thought tlie duty good,' in B, C— G.
t ' Unto it' added in B, C— G t Added in B, C— G.
g ' For because they are not ill in themselves,' &c., in B, C. — G.
I ' Even' added in B, C— G.
^ ' Therefore because ' in C. — G. * 'Fruit ' in C. — G,
judgment's reason. 89
but oftentimes punisbeth for the performance of good duties, as we see liero in the Corintliiaus. But to proceed.
Let us observe some belps to all tbis tbat we bave spoken. To belp us, let us get a (joml rule* Let tbe rule of our judging and discerning be digested into our bearts ; let tbe word of God be engrafted into us ; tbat is tbe word tbat we must judge by, tbat we must be saved or damned by ere long ; [as]t for false rules, tbe practice of tbe world, our own imagina- tions, away witb tbem. We must not judge by tbose, but by tbe trutb of God ; and, J tberefore, be sure of tbis, tbat so tbe rule and our souls may be one, tbat we may bave tbe rule as ready as any corruption and as any sin is ; wben anytbing arisetb in our bearts, tbat tbe word engrafted in our bearts may be ready to cbeck it presently. An unlearned judge oftentimes may mar all, wbatsoever tbe cause be, tbougli never so good. So, wben tbe judgment is not instructed, an ignorant person can never manage bis own soul. Let us labour for knowledge, tbat we may be learned in tbis judicature and judgment§ of ourselves.
Quest. Wbat is tbe reason tbat many good souls are ready to bear false "witness against, and to condemn tbemselves for wbat tbey should not ?
Sol. (1.) Sometiwes they condemn their state,\\ and think [that]'' they are not the children of God, when they are. Tbey want judgment out of God's book. Because tbey bave con-uption in tbem, tbey conclude tbat tbey bave no grace ; because tbey bave but little grace, tberefore tbey bave none at all ; as if God's glory were not to sbew bis strengtb in tbe midst of tbeir weakness, and so, for want of judgment out of tbe Scriptures, tbey lay a plaster upon a sound place, and a true man is condemned for a traitor. Just persons condemn tbemselves in tbeir courses tbat are gracious, for want of a sanctified and good judgment. Let us labour to bave our judg- ment rightly instructed out of God's word, and in tbe use of all good means, grow in knowledge, tbat we may be discerning Christians, to judge between tbe flesh and tbe spirit,^ between good and bad, to bave our senses exercised in tbis kind.
Sol. (2.) And not only to have the law, but to Iznoxv the gospel too. To know in what estate Christians should be under the gospel, not to look to legal breaches altogether, but wbat tbe gospel requires ; not only how short we are of the law (which we can never attain to),** but of that which we might attain to in tbe gospel. Let us bring ourselves to tbat which we might be, and which others bave attained to, to the view of others better than ourselves, and this will make us to judge ourselves. But, as I said before, let us labour to know tbe sins against the gospel; let us know what condition of life is required under the gospel: a fruitful life and a thankful. Our whole life should be nothing but thankfulness under the gospel, and fruitfulness ; we should be inflamed with the love of Christ. Ob ! take heed of turning tbat grace of God into wantonness. Oh! would we bave fresh evidence of the love of God in Christ ? jf Take heed of sins against tbe gospel ; know what the conversation of a Christian should be, to walk worthy of tbe gospel, worthy of the high calling of a Christain. Tbe state of the gospel requires that we should deny all ungodliness and worldly lust, and live righteously, and soberly, and godly, &c., Titus ii. 12; tbat we