But ordinarily, under this blessed conduct in the search of ourselves and the concernments of our duty, we may come unto a satisfaction whether they are influenced by faith and have grace exercised in them, especially this duty of prayer, or whether it derive from the power of our na- tural faculties, raised by light and spiritual gifts only; and so whether our spiritual thoughts therein do spring from a vital principle of grace, or whether they come from occa- sional impressions on the mind, by the performance of the duty itself.
If men are willing to deceive themselves, or to hide them- selves from themselves, to walk with God at all peradven- tures, to leave all things at hazard, to put off all trials unto
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that at the last day, and so never call themselves unto an account as unto the nature of their duties in any particular instance, it is no wonder, if they neither do nor can make any distinction in this matter as unto the true nature of their thoughts in spiritual duties. Two things are required hereunto.
1. That we impartially and severely examine and try the frames and actings of our minds in holy duties by the word of truth ; and thereon not be afraid to speak that plainly unto our souls which the word speaks unto us. This dili- gent search ought to respect our principles, aims, ends, actings, with the whole deportment of our souls in every duty. See 2 Cor. xiii. 5. If a man receiveth much money, and look only on the outward form and superscription, when he supposeth that he hath great store of current coin in gold and silver, he may have only heaps of lead or copper by him. But he that trades in it as the comfort and sup- port of his natural life and condition, he will try what he receives both by the balance and the touchstone, as the oc- casion requires, especially if it be in a time when much adulterated coin is passant in the world. And if a man reckons on his duties by tale and number, he may be ut- terly deceived ; and be spiritually poor and a bankrupt, when he esteems himself rich, increased in goods, and want- ing nothing. Some duties may appearingly hold in the balance as to weight, which will not hold it at the touch- stone as to worth. Both means are to be used if we would not be mistaken in our accounts. Thus God himself, in the midst of a multitude of duties, calls the people to try and examine themselves, whether or no they are such as have faith and grace in them, and so like to have acceptance with him. Isa. lviii.2 — 5.
2. Add we must unto our own diligent inquiry fervent prayers unto God, that he would search and try us, as unto our sincerity, and discover unto us the true frame of our hearts. Hereof we have an express example, Psal. cxxxix. 23, 24. ' Search me, O God, and know my heart : try me, and know my thoughts : and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.' This is the only way whereby we may have the Spirit of God witnessing unto our sincerity, with our own spirits. There
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is need of calling in divine assistance in this matter, both from the importance of it, and from its difficulty ] God alone knowing fully and perfectly, what is in the hearts of men.
I no way doubt but that in the impartial use of these means, a man may come to assured satisfaction in his own mind, such as wherein he shall not be deceived, whether he doth animate and quicken his thoughts of spiritual things in duties with inward vital grace, or whether they are im- pressions on his mind, by the occasion of the duty.
A duty this is of great importance and necessity, now hypocrisy hath made so great an inroad on profession, and gifts have deflowered grace in its principal operations. No persons are in greater danger of walking at hazard with God, than those who live in the exercise of spiritual gifts in duties, unto their own satisfaction and others. For they may countenance themselves with an appearance of every thing that should be in them in reality and power, when there is nothing of it in them. And so it hath fallen out. We have seen many earnest in the exercise of this gift, who have turned vile and debauched apostates. Some have been known to live in sin and an indulgence of their lusts, and yet to abide constant in their duties. Isa. i. 15. And we may hear prayers sometimes that openly discover them- selves unto spiritual sense, to be the labour of the brain, by the help of gifts in memory and invention, without an evi- dence of any mixture of humility, reverence, or godly fear; without any acting of faith and love. They flow as wine, yet smell and taste of the unsavoury cask from whence they proceed. It is necessary therefore that we should put our- selves on the severest trial, lest we should be found not to be spiritually minded in spiritual duties.