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testifies, Ezek. ix. 4, they alone shall be under his especial care in a day of public distress and calamity, — a duty wherein it is to be feared that we are most of us very defective. Now, the frame of heart re- quired hereunto cannot be attained, nor the duty rightly performed, without that state of repentance and humiliation which we inquire into. Without it we may have transient thoughts of these things, but such as will very little aftect our minds ; but where the soul is kept in a constant spiritual frame, it will be ready for this duty on all occasions.
(5.) It becomes them who, having passed through the greatest part of their lives, do find all outward things to issue in vanity and vexation of spirit, as it was with Solomon when he wrote his Eccle- siastes. When a man recounts the various scenes and appearances of things which he hath passed through in his life, and the various conditions he hath been in, he may possibly find that there is nothing steady but sorrow and trouble. It may be so with some, I say, with some good men, with some of the best men, as it was with Jacob. Others may have received more satisfaction in their course ; but if they also will look back, they shall find how little there hath been in the best of their transient comforts ; they will see enough to make them say, " There is nothing La these things ; it is high time to take off all expectations from them." Such persons seem to be called unto this especial exercise of repentance and mourning for the re- mainder of their lives.
(6.) Such as whose hearts are really wounded and deeply affected with the love of Christ, so as that they can hardly bear any longer absence fi'om him, nor delight in the things wherein they are detained and kept out of his presence. This frame the apostle describes, 2 Cor. V. 2, 4, 6, 8. They live in a groaning condition, thoroughly sensible of all the evils that accompany them in this absence of the Bridegroom ; and they cannot but continually reflect upon the sins and follies which their lives have been and are filled withal, in this their distance from Christ. Whereas, therefore, their hearts are filled with inflamed affections towards him, they cannot but walk humbly and mournfully until they come unto him. It may be said that those who have experience of such affection unto the Lord Jesus cannot })ut have continual matter of joy in themselves; and so of all men have least need of such a state of constant humiliation and repent- ance. I say it is so indeed, they have such matter of joy ; and there- with Christ will be formed in them more and more every day. But I say also, there is no inconsistency between spiritual joy in Christ and godly sorrow for sin ; yea, no man in this life shall ever be able to maintain solid joy in his heart, without the continual working of godly sorrow also ; yea, there is a secret joy and refreshment in godly
446 EVIDENCES OF THE
sorrow, equal unto the eliiefest of our joys, and a great spiritual satisfaction.
These several sorts of persons, I say, are peculiarly called unto that exercise of faith in repentance which we inquire after.
Before I proceed to show wherein this state I intend doth consist, and what is required thereunto (which is the last thing proposed), I shall premise some rules for the right judging of ourselves with re- spect unto them. As, —
1. Faith will evidence its truth (which is that we inquire after) in its sincere endeavour after the things intended, though its attain- ments as unto some of them be but mean and low ; yea, a sense of its coming short in a full answering of them or compliance with them, is a great ingredient in that state called unto. If, therefore, faith keep up this design in the soul, with a sincere pursuit of it, though it fail in many things, and is not sensible of any great pro- gress it makes, it will therein evidence its sincerity.
2. Whereas there are sundry things, as we shall see, required here- unto, it is not necessary that they should be found all equally in all who design this state and frame. Some may be more eminent in one of them, some in another ; some may have great helps and further- ances unto some of them in a peculiar manner, and some great obstructions in the exercise of some of them. But it is required that they be all radically in the heart, and be put forth in exercise sometimes, on their proper occasions.
8. This state, in the description of it, will sufficiently distinguish itself from that discontent of mind whereon some withdraw them- selves from the occasions of life, rather condemning others than them- selves, on mere weariness of the disappointments of the world, which hath cast some into crooked paths.
1. The FIRST thing required hereunto is weanedness from the world. The rule of most men is, that all things are well enough with them, with respect unto the world, whilst they keep themselves from known particular sins in the use of the things of it. Whilst they do so in their own apprehensions, they care not how much they cleave unto it, — are even swallowed up in the businesses and occasions of it. Yea, some will pretend unto and make an appearance of a course of life more than ordinarily strict, whilst their hearts and affections cleave visibly to this world and the things of it. But the foundation of the work of faith we inquire into must be laid in mortification and weanedness from the world.