a Grudge to him that hath offended us, witho discovering it in our Actions, fo like curb our Paffions, that few Men will think themfc... concerned to part with them, except they c fider which is the pure, and which is the fo.. fticate Metal.

How like faving-knowledge doth that kn ledge of God look, which puffs up the Soul, tempts Men to defpife others that are not a ved to the fame Measure of the ftature of fulness of Chrift? There is no diftinguishin them but by the effects: And how shall the fects be difcriminated, but by Confideration cannot avoid being deceived, if I do not fit de and reflect; Lord, I pretend to knowledg the Cross of Christ, but doth this knowle make me humble and vile in mine own E Doth it discover to me my fpiritual Pove and make me prefer others before my f Doth it make me prize Chrift above all? A doth it engage me to count all things dross dung, for the excellency of the knowledge Chrift? Doth it make me ftand under the Ci of Christ, and breathe and pant after his p cious Blood, like a Man truly fenfible both ve the worth and want of it? Doth it produce t Mind in me, which was in Christ Jesus? Do y it fill me with Holy Ardours to be made p taker of his Holinefs? Doth it make me won der at the Mystery, and glory in that which the Jews is a itumbling-Block, and to the Greede Foolithnets? Doft thou feel this, O my Sou How happy art thou if thou art fenfible of the Operations? Do not deceive thy felf; D

make

it make me do the truth, as well as give affent to it? Dothit make me cautious and afraid of offending that God whom I believe to be of purer eyes than to behold iniquity? Doth it make me imbrace Chrift, both as my Redeemer and Governor, both as my Saviour and my King? Doth it elevate my thoughts, and make me ftudy how I fhall advance God's Glory, and do much good in my generation? Doth it rouze my Soul from her flumber, and make me look and act like one concern'd and touch'd with a fenfe of another life? Doth it work by love? And doth it drive · me to give God my dearest and tendereft love? Doth it work by Charity too, by good works? And doth it make me caft my Bread upon the Water, give away freely and cheerfully, though I have no profpect, and fee no probability of a recompence here on Earth? Doth it make me despise the World, and overcome it, and use it only as my Servant, while God alone is my Mafter? Doth it make me refift the Devil, and grapple with Powers and Principalities, with the Rulers of Darkness, and with Spiritual Wickedneffes in high places? Ephef. 6. 12. Doth it make me pray with fervency and importunity? Doth it transport my Soul into ravishments, upon the fight of yonder glorious things God hath laid up, and prepared for those that love him? Doth it make me rejoyce in that Saviour I have not feen, with joy unfpeakable, and full of Glory? Doth it infuse boldness and courage into my Soul to ftand up for God, when I either hear his Name prophaned, or fee his Creatures fearfully abused? Doth it make me, with

Phineas, run in and ftem the ftrong current of Iniquity, and with Paul and Barnabas, angry at the improper honour Men are going to offer me? Does it make me truft God in adverfity, even then when the Fig-tree doth not bloffom, when there is no fruit in the Vine, when the labour of the Olive fails, and the Field does yield no meat; when the Flock is cut off from the Fold, and when there are no herds in the Stalls? Hab. 3. 17. Doth it make me take notice of God's gracious Dealings and Providences, and admire God's Wisdom and Greatnefs, and Power, and Goodness in all? Doth it make me prize the Promises of the Gospel above all Riches, and doth it make me willing to fuffer for Christ? Rejoyce, O my Soul, if Faith hath thus warm'd thy heart, and if thou findeft these Footsteps of God within thee! These are Ornaments fit for thee to appear in before the great Tribunal. On the other fide, What eafe, what quiet canft thou enjoy, if thy Faith be dead, and dull, and unactive; if it doth not touch thy Tongue with a Coal from the Altar, and doth not make thee break forth into Celebrations and Admiration of the height, and breadth, and length, and depth of the love. of God; If thou feeleft no Holy Force to fhake off every weight, and every fin which doth fo eafily befet thee; If thy Faith does not make thee stand upon thy watch, and break through all difcouragements and oppofitions, to obtain the end of thy Faith, even thy Salvation; If it doth not make thy corruptions abate and thy extravagant Defires and Paffions fall, if it be fo faint that thy Hands grow weak, and thy Knees G 2 feeble

feeble, that thy Graces languish, and thy Goodnefs dwindles away; If thy Sins grow ftrong under the fhadow of it, and the Rod of iniquity bloffoms and bears fruit: If it doth not chafe Difcontent in a great measure from thy thoughts, and doth not give thee Bowels of Compaffion to Minifters, to the Servants of God, to Chrift's diftreffed Members; if it doth not drive thee into Heaven, into Contemplations of a glorious Eternity, which thall make amends for all the loffes, troubles, perils, miferies and difficulties thou undergoest here; if it doth not make thee prefer Chrift's Honour and Will before the vain allurements of Flesh and Blood; and the Society of those who delight in God, before familiarity with the richest and greateft,who caft God's Law behind them; if it works no Patience in Afflictions,no Humility,no Self-denial,no Meeknefs under Croffes, and Injuries, and Perfecutions, no Courage to ftand up for God, and for his Glory, no Delight in the Word and Ways of God, no fincere Endeavours to practife what thou hearest, no Relifh in Spiritual things, no holy Revenge upon thy Corruptions, no Indignation against thy former Sins, no Carefulness to pleafe God, no vehement Defires after him who is fairer than the Children of Men?

Faith thus confider'd, if it be but a painted Fire, will quickly betray it felf; and Confideration will foon give an Item to the Sinner, that this is no good foundation to build Eternal Salvation on; this will blow away the Chaff, and thew how little good Corn there was in that rubbish. This will melt all the Drofs and Tin

away,