280. To discern of our estate in grace, let us chiefly look to our affec- tions, for they are intrinsecal, and not subject to hypocrisy. Men of great parts know much, and so doth the devil, but he wants love. In fire all things may be painted but the heat. So all good actions may be done by an hypocrite, but there is a heat of love which he hath not. We should therefore chiefly examine the truth and sincerity of our affections.
281. We may apprehend the love of God, but we cannot comprehend it. All the fruits of his love passes our common understanding, and there- fore we have the Holy Spirit given to us to take away the veil, and to make report of it to the soul ; and then as soon as this love of Christ is apprehended, it constrains us to all holy duties, not as fii'e out of flint, but as water out of a spring. The love of a wife to her husband may begin from the supply of her necessities, but afterwards she may love him also for the sweetness of his person. So the soul doth first love Christ for salvation, but when she is brought to him, and finds that sweetness that is in him, then she loves him for himself.
282. It should be our continual care to manifest the sincerity of our hearts to God in our several places and callings, and this is done when we look at God in every action, and endeavour to yield our whole soul to the whole will of God, serving him in our spirits, and performing the works of our callings by his Spirit, according to his word, and unto his glory ; and if we thus labour to approve ourselves to him, whatsoever be the issue, we shall be endued with a holy boldness, with inward peace and comfort, having carried ourselves as in the sight of God.
283. That a man may be fit to persuade others he must have love to their persons, a clear knowledge of the cause, and grace, that he may be able to speak in wisdom to their souls and consciences. As we are saved by love, so we are persuaded by the arguments of love, which is most agreeable to the nature of man, that is led by persuasion, not by compul- sion. Men may be compelled to the use of the means, but not to faith. Many men labour only to unfold the Scriptures, for the increasing of their know- ledge, that they may be able to discourse, whereas the special intent of the ministry is to work upon the heart and affections.
284. As we must approve ourselves to God and to our own consciences, so also to the consciences of others, — not to their humours and fancies,- — that they may witness for us, that we love them and deal faithfully with them. We should labour to do all the good we can, especially to the souls of men that are redeemed with the blood of Christ. If we deserve well of them, they will give evidence for us ; but if we walk scandalously, they will evidence that we by our ill courses and examples drew them to ill courses, and har- dened them in evil. It should be our care therefore to approve ourselves to the consciences of men, that we may have them to witness for us, that such men of whom we have deserved well may be our crown at the last day.
* That is, = as foolishness. — G.
218 DIVINE MEDITATIONS
285. A man doth then keep a good conscience in relation to others, when he makes it appear that he can deny himself to do them good ; when the consciences of other men shall think thus, Such a man regards my good more than his o\vi>; he seeks no advantage to himself; he lives so as that the world may see he is in good earnest ; he speaks so as that he makes it good hy his life. Now if onr care be to walk thus, we shall approve our- selves to the consciences of men.
286. There are many that will give some way to divine truths, but they have a reservation of souif sin. When Herodias is once touched, then John Baptist's head must off, Mat. xiv. 6. Such truths as come near makes them fret, because their conscience tells them they cannot yield obedience to all. The lust of some sins hath gotten such domination over their affec- tions, that the conscience saith, I cannot do this ; and then that hatred that should be turned upon the sin, is turned upon the word and the minister. Like unto some vermin, that when they are driven to a stand, they will fly in a man's face, so these men, when they see they must yield, they grow malicious, so that what they will not follow, that they will reproach ; there- fore it should be our care at all times to yield obedience, according to what we know.
287. There is a generation of churlish people, such as watch for offences, because they would go to hell with some reason. They will not see who are weak, and who are hypocrites, but they cast reproach upon all ; and therefore oftentimes God in justice to them suffers good men to fall, that such men may take ' scandal ' at them to their ruin.