THE SPIRITVAL TOUCHSTONE: OR, THE SIGNS OF A GODLY MAN: Drawn in so plain and profitable a manner, as all sorts of Christians may try themselves thereby. Together with Directions, how the weak Christian, by the use of these Signs may establish his assurance. By N. BIFIELD Preacher of God's word at Isleworth in Middlesex. 2. COR. 13. 5. Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith: prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? LONDON, Printed by R. FIELD, for Jonas man.. 1619. TO THE MUCH Honoured Lady, the Lady RVTH SCYDAMORE increase of peace and joy in believing. HOw great the benefit of assurance of God's favour and of our own salvation is, those only know that are either scourged with the conflicts and terrors of their own doubtings, or that are solaced and established with the sweet dews of refreshing that arise from a rooted and well grounded faith. If men study assurances so much for their outward possessions in this world, how much more earnest and diligent should men be to assure God's love and the inheritance of the glory to come? There is not a clearer sign of a profane heart, then to account these cares needless: nor do I know a juster exception against any religion, then that it should teach, that when a man hath done what he can to observe the directions of that religion, yet he cannot be sure he shall go to heaven. But since I know that all that are possessed of the grace of jesus Christ, do account assurance great riches, I therefore conceive hope that my pains about this subject will not be altogether unacceptable: and the rather because in this present treatise I have endeavoured to express the signs of trial in a much more easy way then before; and beside have added directions, that show how a weak Christian may establish himself in his assurance. I make bold to dedicate my new Essay herein unto your Ladyship. You have heard the substance hereof preached, and received it with much gladness; and in the private use of these signs, you have been pleased to profess (to the glory of God) that you have found much contentment and establishment of your own assurance. Your eminency in the sincere profession and practice of true religion, and the shining of the graces here entreated of, long acknowledged by many witnesses, have made you worthy to be publicly observed and praised in the Churches of Christ: and your great respect and favour showed to me, hath made this way of testifying my thankfulness, but as a small pledge and assurance of my desire to do your Ladyship any service in the things of jesus Christ. Thus beseeching God to enlarge the comforts of his Spirit in your heart, and to prosper you in all things that concern the blessed hope of the appearing of jesus Christ our mighty God and Saviour, I end, and rest Your Ladyships to be commanded, N. Bifield. CHAP. I. Describing the godly man by such signs as discover him to the observation of other men. THe signs of the true Christian that hath true grace in this world, and shall be saved in heaven when he dies, may be cast into two Catalogues. The Two Catalogues of signs. one more brief: the other more large. The one Catalogue of signs describe him by such marks, as for the most part do outwardly distinguish him amongst men. The large Catalogue I intent especially as a more infallible and effectual way of trial, as containing such signs as for the most part are not observed by other men, or not fully, but are known to himself, and can be found in no reprobate. For the first Catalogue: The shorter Catalogue handled in this Chapter. The true Christian usually discovers himself by these marks. First, he will not have 1. He avoids the company of the wicked. fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; he will not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners. He will not sort himself with workers of iniquity. Psal. 1. 1. & 26. 2. Cor. 6. Secondly, he will afflict 2. He is sorrowful for his sin. & humble his soul for his sins, mourning and weeping for them, till the Lord be pleased to show mercy and forgive him. He doth account his sins to be his greatest burden. He cannot make a mock of sin, etc. Thirdly, he labours 3. He is thoroughly reform in conversation. to be holy in all parts of his conversation, watching over his own ways at all times, and in all companies. Psal. 50. 23. Esa. 56. 8. 2. Pet. 3. Fourthly, he makes 4. He maketh conscience of lesser sins as well as greater. conscience of the least commandments as well as the greatest, avoiding filthy speaking, and vain jesting, and lasciviousness, as well as whoredom: lesser oaths as well as the greater; reproachful speeches as well as violent actions, etc. Fiftly, he loves and 5. He loves preaching. esteems, and labours for the powerful preaching of the word, above all earthly treasures. Sixtly, he honours 6. He esteems the godly above all men. and highly accounts of the godly, and delights in the company of such as truly fear God, above all others. Psal. 15. Seventhly, he is careful 7. He is careful of the sanctification of the Sabbath. of the sanctification of the Sabbath; neither daring to violate that holy rest by labour, nor to neglect the holy duties belonging to God's service public or private. Esa. 56. and 58. Eightly, he loves not 8. He is not in love with the world. the world, neither the things thereof, but is more hearty affected in things that concern a better life, and so doth in some degree love the appearing of Christ. Ninthly, He is easy 9 He loves his enemies. to be entreated, he can forgive his enemies, desires peace, and will do good even to them, that persecute him, if it lie in his power: Math. 5. Tenthly, he goeth 10. He is constant in good courses, though opposed. on in the profession of the sincerity of the Gospel, and doth such duties as he knoweth God requires of him in businesses of his soul, notwithstanding the oppositions of profane persons, or the dislike of carnal friends, etc. eleventhly, he setteth 11. He serves God in his family. up a daily course of serving of God, and that with his family too, if he have any; and exerciseth himself in the word of God, as the chief joy of his heart, and the daily refuge of his life, calling upon God continually, etc. CHAP. II. Showing the general division of the Signs, and the ways how the signs were found out. THus of the shorter Catalogue of signs: Now it follows, that I proceed to those infallible marks of Election, and salvation. And whereas I have divers years since published a Treatise which I called Essays, or signs of God love, and man's salvation: Having observed The occasion of this Treatise. that divers have accounted the manner of setting the signs down somewhat obscure in divers parts of the book, I will now by God's assistance, for the helping of the weakest Christians in this Treatise, endeavour to express myself in this doctrine of the trial of a true Christians estate in a more plain and easy course of examination; and leave both the former treatise, and his new Catalogue unto the blessing of God, and the free choice of the godly reader of use, which he findeth most agreeable to his own taste, being both such as are warranted & founded upon the infallible evidence of God's unchangeable truth. In this project than I consider of the trial of The signs referred to six heads. a true Christian six ways. First, in his humiliation. Secondly, in his faith. Thirdly, in the gifts of his mind, with which he is qualified. Fourthly, in the works of his obedience. Fiftly, in the entertainment he hath from God. Sixtly, in the manner of his receiving of the Sacraments. In all which he differs from all the wicked men in the world, so as never any wicked man could find these things in his condition, which are true of the weakest Christian in each of these signs. And that the true Christian may not doubt of his estate, having found these signs The infallibility of the signs. in himself, let him consider the proofs annexed to each sign: & that nothing may be wanting to his abundant consolation, I will tell him, how I found out those signs, and by what grounds I proceeded. There are three sorts 3. Ways to find out the signs of a godly man in Scripture. of places in Scripture (as I conceive) which do point out the grounds of infallible assurance in those that can attain unto them: as first, such places as expressly do affirm, that such and such things are signs: As for example 1. john 3. 14. Hereby we know, that we are translated from death to life, because we love the brethren. Here the holy Ghost shows us expressly, that the love of the brethren is a sign, by which a Christian may know, that he is translated from death to life: & so the Apostle Paul gives signs to know, whether their sorrow were after God, or no. 2. Cor. 7. 11. So doth the Prophet David, Psal. 15. give divers signs, by which the man that shall dwell in Gods holy hill, may be known. So the Apostle james tells us, how we may know the wisdom from above, by reckoning the fruits and effects of it. jam. 3. 17. So doth the Apostle Paul tell us, how we may know, whether we have the Spirit of Christ in us or no, Rom. 8. 9 15. etc. Gal. 5. 22. & 4. 6. 7. Secondly, I find out signs, by marking, what graces in man the promises of God are made unto; for thus I reason: Whatsoever gifts of God in man brings him within the compass of God's promises of eternal mercy: that gift must be an infallible sign of salvation. But such are such and such gifts, as the instances in divers Scriptures show: And therefore the man that can find those gifts in himself, shall be certainly saved. As for example: The kingdom of heaven is promised to such as are poor in spirit, Math. 5. 4. From thence then I gather, that poverty of spirit is an infallible sign. The like I may say of the love of the word, and of uprightness of heart, and of the love of God, and the love of the appearing of Christ, etc. Thirdly, I find out other signs by observing what godly men in Scripture have said for themselves, when they have pleaded their own evidence for their interest in God's love, or their hope of a better life. For look how godly men in Scripture have proved that they were not hypocrites: even so may any Christian prove that he is not an hypocrite neither. As for example, job being charged to be an hypocrite, and lying under the heavy hand of God, pleads his cause, and proves that he was not an hypocrite, by his constancy in God's ways, and by his constant estimation of God's word, and desire after it, as after his appointed food, job 23. 10. 11. 12. More of this kind thou mayst find in the proofs of particular signs. Now whereas some signs are general, and thou mightst doubt of the exposition, namely how that sign is infallible in such & such senses: For thy establishment herein, thou mayst observe, that I expound the sign as it is expounded in other several Scriptures. As for example: The love of the brethren, is a general sign. Now how shall I know that I have the right love of the brethren? This I explain by flying to divers other Scriptures, wherein the particular explications of this sign are pleaded. CHAP. III. The trial of a Christian by the signs of true humiliation. THe first way then, by which a Christian may try himself, is to examine himself about his humiliation for sin, whether it be right or no. For under this head is comprehended the explication of the doctrine of poverty of spirit, and godly sorrow, and so in general of repentance for sins. Now the true Christian in this matter of humiliation shows himself to have attained 26. Signs of true humiliation. that, which no reprobate could ever attain: and that in divers particulars, as, First, he hath a true 1. He sees his sins. sight and sense of his sins. He discerns his sinfulness of life both past and present, and is affected and pained under the burden of his daily wants and corruptions, and sees his misery in respect of his sins. jerem. 3. 12. Math. 11. 29. Math. 5. 4. Secondly, he trembles 2. He fears God's displeasure. at God's word, and fears his displeasure, while it yet hangs in the threatenings. Esa. 66. 1. 2. Thirdly, he renounceth 3. He trusts not upon the merit of his own works. his own merits, and disclaimeth all opinion of true happiness in himself, or in any thing under the Sun; as being fully persuaded, that he cannot be saved by any works of his own, or be happy in enjoying any worldly things; and therefore is fully resolved to seek for the chief good in God's favour in jesus Christ only. Fourthly, he mourns 4. He mourns. hearty and secretly for his sins; and so he doth, 1. For all sorts of sins: For all sorts of sin. for secret sins as well as known sins; for lesser sins as well as greater; for the present evils of his nature and life, as well as sins past: yea for the sins he hath loved, or have been gainful and pleasing to him. Yea he grieves for the evil that cleaves to his best works, as well as for evil works, Esa. 6. 5. Rom. 7. Esa. 1. 16. Math. 5. 6. 2. For sin as it is sin, For sin as it is sin. and not as it doth or might bring him shame, or punishments in this life, or in hell. 3. He is as much troubled As much as for crosses. for his sins, as he was wont, or now should be for crosses in his estate. He mourns as hearty for the sorrows that fell upon God's Son for his sin, as if he had lost his own and only son, Zachar. 12. 10, 11. or at least this he striveth for, and judgeth himself, if worldly afflictions do trouble him more than his sins. Psal. 38. 5. Fiftly, he is truly grieved 5. And for the sins of others. and vexed in soul for the abominations that are done by others, to the dishonour of God, or slander of true religion, or the ruin of the souls of men. Thus Lot, 2. Pet. 2. 6. and David, Psalm. 119. 136. and the mourners marked for Gods own people. Ezech. 9 4. Sixtly, he is hearty 6. And for spiritual judgements. affected, and troubled, and grieved for spiritual judgements, that reach unto the souls of men, as well as wicked men are wont to be troubled for temporal crosses; & so he is grieved and perplexed for hardness of heart, (when he cannot mourn as he would,) and for the famine of the word, or for the absence of God, or for the blasphemies of the wicked, or the like. Psal. 42. 2. 3. & 137. Nehem. 1. 3. 4. Esay 63. 17. Seventhly, he is most 7. And is moved thereunto by God's mercy. stirred up to abase himself and mourn for his sins, when he feels God to be most merciful. The goodness of God doth make him fear God, and hate his sins rather, than his justice, Hos. 3. 5. Eightly, his griefs 8. And he is eased only by spiritual means. are such as can be assuaged only by spiritual means. It is not sport or merry company that easeth him: his comfort is only from the Lord in some of his ordinances. As it was the Lord that wounded him with the sight of his sins, so to the Lord only be goeth to be healed of his wounds, Hos. 6. 1. 2. Psal. 119. 23. 24. 50. Ninthly, in his grief he is inquisitive: he will 9 And is careful to learn how to be saved ask the way, and desires to know how he may be saved. He cannot smother and put off his doubts in so great a business. He dares not now any longer be ignorant of the way to heaven. He is not careless, as he was wont to be, but is seriously bend to get directions from the word of God about his reconciliation, sanctification, & salvation, etc. jerem. 50. 4. 5. Acts 2. 37. Tenthly, he is fearful 10. And is fearful of being deceived. of being deceived, and therefore is not slightly satisfied. He will not rest upon a common hope, nor is he carried with probabilities; nor doth it content him that other men have a good opinion of him; nor is he pleased that he hath mended some faults, or begun to repent: but repenting he reputes still, that is, he takes a sound course to be sure his repentance be effectually performed, jerem. 31. 19 eleventhly, he is vehemently 11. And earnestly desires to lead an holy life. carried with the desires of the sound reformation of his life. His sorrow is not water, but washing; nor is it every washing, but such as maketh clean. Worldly sorrow may have much water, but it maketh nothing clean; whereas godly sorrow always tendeth to reformation and sound amendment. Twelfthly, in all his sorrows he is supported 12. And trusts upon God's mercy in his grief. by a secret trust in the mercy and acceptation of God, so as no misery can beat him from the consideration and inward affiance and hope in the mercy of God. In the very disquietness of his heart, the desire of his soul is to the Lord, and before his presence; though he be never so much cast down, yet he waits upon God for the help of his countenance, and in some measure condemns the unbelief of his own heart, and trusts in the name of God, and his never failing compassions, Psalm. 38. 9 & 42. 5. 11. Lam. 3. 21. Zepha. 3. 12. 13. He is wonderfully 13. And is in love with God if he hear his prayers. inflamed with love to God, if he at any time let him know that he heareth his prayers. In the midst of his most desperate sorrows his heart is eased if he speed well in prayer, Psalm 116. 1. 3. 14. He daily keeps 14. And daily judgeth himself for his sin. an assize upon his own soul: he judgeth himself for his sins before God, arresting, accusing, and condemning his sins. He confesseth his sins particularly to God, without hiding any sin, that is, without forbearing to pray against any sin he knows by himself, out of any desire he hath still to continue in it; and by this sign he may be sure he hath the Spirit of God, and that his sins are forgiven him. Esay 4. 4. Psal. 35. 5. 1. joh. 1. 7. 1. Cor. 11. 32. 15. His requests are 15. And prays in the holy Ghost. daily powered unto God. He cries unto God with affection & confidence, though it be with much weakness and many defects, as the little child doth unto the father, and thereby he discovers the Spirit of adoption in him. Rom. 8. 15. Zach. 12. 10. Ephes. 3. 12. 16. He is unfeignedly 16. Desiring to be rid of all sin. desirous to be rid of all sins, as well as one. There is no sin he knows by himself, but he doth desire as hearty that he might never commit it, as he doth that Note this. God should never impute it. This is a never failing sign, a fundamental one. 2. Tim. 2. 19 17. He is content to 17. And is willing to suffer affliction. receive evil at the hand of God, as well as good, without murmuring, or letting go his integrity; as being sensible of his own deserts, and desirous to approve himself to God, without respect of reward. This proved that job was an holy and upright man, job 1. 1. & 2. 3. 10. 18. He dislikes sin 18. He dislikes sin in all. in all, even in those that are near and dear unto him in other respects, 1. King. 15. 12. 13. 14. 19 He is innocent from 19 Sin reigns not in him. the great transgression, and keeps himself from his own iniquity. He is not subject to the dominion of sin. Sin doth not reign in him, Psal. 19 13. 2. Sam. 22. 24. 20. He finds a desire 20. He humbles himself for sin even in his prosperity. to be rid of sin, and to humble himself for it in prosperity as well as adversity. He leaves sin before sin would leave him. He forsakes it then, when he could commit it without apparent danger, job 8. 5. 6. 21. Or if he be in adversity, 21. And in adversity his heart is upright. his heart is upright, without lying or dissimulation. He so seeketh the pardon of his sins then, and so promiseth amendment, as that he is also as careful to practise it when he is delivered. He is not like the Israelites mentioned Psal. 78. 36. 37. 22. He makes a supernatural 22. He accounts of spiritual things as the best things. valuation of spiritual things, accounting them as pearls of the best price, not too dear bought, if he purchased them with all the worldly things he hath; and contrariwise, accounting himself exceeding poor if he want them, or the means of them, Math. 13. 45. 46. Psal. 42. & 63. 1. 3. 23. He hath lost his 23. He doth not savour the things of the flesh and the world. wont taste in earthly things: his heart is not transported with the admiration of them, or the inordinate desires after worldly things. He loves not the world & this life as he was wont to do. Though he use the world, yet he easily confesseth himself to be a stranger and pilgrim here. He gives over the unnecessary pleasures & profits of this life, Heb. 11. 13. 1. joh. 2. 14. 15. Rom. 8. 6. He is weary of the world, and willing to forego society with the men of this world, the workers of iniquity, Psalm. 6. 8. 9 and 39 12. and 26. 1, 2, 3, 4. 24. If the Lord be silent, 24. He is much grieved if God hide himself. and answer not his desires, but hides his face; his spirit faileth, and he is as one that goeth down into the pit: it troubles him as a sore cross; and so contrariwise, Psal. 26. 1: and 88 13, 14, 15: and 143. 7. joh. 16. 23. 28. 25. If he hath been 25. Of a lion he becomes a lamb. a man subject to boisterous, violent, and hurtful affections, he is now become tame: of a Lion he is become a lamb, & a little child may lead him, Esay 11. 9 26. He hath a spirit 26. His spirit is without guile. without guile, Psal. 32. 2. He is more desirous to be good, then to be thought to be so; and more seeks the power of godliness, than the show of it, job. 1. 1. Prou. 20. 6. 7. His praise is of God, and not of men: Rom. 2. 26. And thus much of the trial of his humiliation. The signs of his faith follow. CHAP. FOUR The trial of a godly man by his Faith. FAith is the next thing to be tried in a child of God. And in as much as there are divers kinds of faith, Why we should try our faith. and experience shows in many that give no signs of repentance, that they will not be beaten from a confident presumption that Christ died for them, even for them in particular: it stands us in hand to try our persuasion by true rules of Scripture, that so if it will abide the trial of the touchstone, we may lay it up as an hid treasure and a wonderful grace of God; and if otherwise, we may repent us of presumption, as a deceivable sin. But before I open the signs of this sign, the Reader must be admonished of three things. First, that I intent not The drift is to show how faith may be proved, not how it may be bred. by these signs to show how faith may be bred or begotten in us, but how faith may be proved and declared to be in us. For it is the promises of God in the Scripture that breed faith: nor can human reason believe such great things from God for any thing that is in us, but only because we see the word of God assuring such happiness unto such as lay hold upon them. So that, that which breeds faith, is the revelation of God's promises by his word and Spirit. Yet notwithstanding the assurance of faith is much increased and confirmed by the sight of those signs of the truth of our faith, and other graces of God in us. Secondly, that I stand A second caveat. not precisely upon the order of these graces of God in us, nor determine that question, which graces are first wrought in the heart of a man: but that which I have specially aimed at in the order of setting them down, is to begin at those that either first appear in a Christian, or are easiest (as I conceive) to be discerned in him. Thirdly, that I intent The 3. note by way of preface. especially the trial of such Christians as agree in this, that they are persuaded that Christ died for them; that so the true Christian may see reason to comfort himself, that his persuasion is no presumption, as is the persuasion of the most. It is true, that divers of the signs of faith here to be handled, will show faith in the weakest Christian, though he will not yet be brought to acknowledge any persuasion. For this persuasion may be secretly wrought upon the heart: as it is when it relieth upon the merits of Christ only for salvation, though the judgement of the Christian be not resolved against his doubts. The question than is, how a Christian may try his persuasion of God's mercy, and his interest in Christ's merits, whether it be right or no. For answer thereunto, I say, that the true Christian doth prove his faith and persuasion The true faith. to be right, by those signs following. First, his faithor persuasion 1. Was wrought by the word preached. was wrought by the hearing of the word preached: & therefore thou must first ask thyself, how thou comest by thy persuasion. For if thou say, thou wast always so persuaded, or didst attain it by mere natural means or helps, thou art deceived. For, faith is first wrought by the holy Ghost in the preaching of the Gospel, as it is most clear by the words of the Apostle, How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? Rom. 10. 14. And whereas it may be, that many Christians have not observed the workings of their faith; and have forgotten the time of their conversion; and have not judgement to discern how the Lord by the ministery of his servants did change their hearts, and lead them to Christ: Therefore when this first sign cannot comfort, they must try themselves by the rest that follow. Secondly, he hath an 2. Esteems Christ above all things. high estimation of jesus Christ. For the man that hath true faith, accounts all things most base in comparison of the knowledge of Christ, and the love of God in him. He had rather be sure of Christ, then to gain the whole world. Christ is more precious than all the world: yea is the only thing in request in the desires of the Christian. Now Christ is precious only to them that believe, 1. Pet. 2. 6. and by this sign Paul knew that he was grown far beyond himself in his former life, and beyond all the Pharisees in the world. Phil. 3. 9 Thirdly, he readily 3. Receives the testimony of God's ministers before all the world. receives the testimony of God's ministers speaking out of the word, & sticks to it against all the contradictions of the world. The Apostle Paul 2. Thessal. 1. 10. shows, that this sign will be pleaded and acknowledged in the day of Christ: Christ, saith he, will be made admirable in them that believe. Now some may say, But how shall we know that we do believe? Why, saith he, you are true believers, because ye received our testimony; and this shall be to your praise in that day. Fourthly, he cannot 4. Casts out hypocrisy. abide counterfeiting & hypocrisy. If it be a right persuasion, it is a faith unfeigned; Unfeigned I say, as in other respects, so in affects, because it cannot abide feign, but with special hatred purgeth out hypocrisy; which the persuasion of hypocrites never doth. 2. Tim. 1. 5. Fiftly, this persuasion 5. Will abide trial. is permanent: it will endure trial, it will hold out in the evil day; it inclines the heart to cleave to jesus Christ, even in the fire of tribulation, in the midst of manifold afflictions, and disgraces, and temptations. It is like the gold in the furnace that perisheth not; nor will it barely hold out: but a Christian by his faith comforts & supports himself in affliction, so as his faith becomes to him both a breastplate & an helmet: whereas the best faith, that is not the faith of Gods elect, will prove but dross, if it be cast into the furnace of temptation, further than it is supported by carnal means and helps. 1. Pet. 1. 6, 7. 2. Tim. 1. 12. 1. Thess. 5. 8. Eph. 6. Luke 8. 13. Sixtly, he will believe 6. It believes all things. all things: I say all things that he apprehendeth to be required, threatened, or promised in the word. To believe some things only, may be in any other kind of faith, especially when they are such things as stand with their own reasons, or wills, or affections, or the common opinion of other men: But this is the glory of a lively instifying faith, it will give glory to God in all things. What God can speak, it can believe: so soon as it knows it is spoken of God, though it be never so contrary to the judgement of flesh and blood, Act. 14. 14. Seventhly, he will not 7. Will not make haste make haste. This was the sign given in the Prophet Esay's time: He that believeth will not make haste. He had prophesied of hard times to fall upon all the people: now this would show amongst them, who were true believers. For those that trusted in God, would not make haste to use ill means to help themselves; they would stay their hearts in rest and quietness, and they would stay their feet too from running to Egypt, or to Asshur, which God had forbidden, Isai. 28. 16. If faith be right, and thy persuasion a sound persuasion, and well grounded, there are joined with it these things following. Eightly, his persuasion 8. Is accompanied with a pure conscience. is joined with a good and pure conscience; a conscience, I say, that makes him careful to avoid sin, and do good duties, and to serve God in sincerity: whereas the persuasion that is in wicked men, is not accompanied with a good conscience, they do not make conscience of their ways. Now this is a clear rule of difference, 1. Tim. 1. 5. 19 and 3. 9 Heb. 10. 22. Ninthly, he hath a spirit 9 And a spirit of discerning. of discerning. There is a great deal of light comes into the heart with faith. A man cannot believe, and be ignorant still. The Christian that is endued with faith from above, is endued with wisdom from above: so as he can conceive of the things of God that concern salvation, which the natural man perceiveth not. Though he may want still in many knowledges, yet he hath skill in some measure to learn how to be saved. The doctrine of salvation he can now understand, which is taught in the ministery of the word; and he now can make some good use of reading the Scriptures, that before discerned little or nothing in them. The veil that lieth upon the hearts of all flesh; is now taken from his eyes; yea the very entrance into God's word giveth light to the simplest believer. He that was stupid and unteachable before, doth now hear as the learned, with a holy kind of insight and judgement: 2. Tim. 3. 15. Psal. 119. 130. Prou. 1. 4. 8. & 5. 9 Tenthly, he hath a 10. And the witness of the Spirit of adoption. witness within himself. He that believeth hath a witness in himself, 1. joh. 5. 10. For he hath the Spirit of adoption to certify him infallibly of God's love to him, & that he is the child of God, Rom. 8. 15. 16: and thus the believers are said to be sealed by the Spirit of promise, Ephes. 1. 13. 14. God leaves a pawn, a pledge with every Christian that shall be saved, to be as the earnest of his salvation, and this pledge and earnest is God's Spirit. And the Spirit testifies to the believer, partly by revealing to him the certainty & truth of God's promises in his word; & partly by printing upon his heart these saving graces, which distinguish him from all others; and partly by pouring upon him the joys, which are called the joys of the holy Ghost, in the use of God's ordinances, as the inward ratification of the assurance of God's love and goodness to the believer. Of which after. Lastly, Faith may be 11. Beareth those fruits following. discerned by many things it worketh, which are the fruits of it: and by the fruits of faith, we may know faith itself. Faith is like the root of a tree, that lieth under ground, and cannot be seen without much digging; but by the fruit the tree beareth, we may know what kind of root it hath, and of what sort it is. Now the fruits of faith are these that follow, and such like, as, 1. Love to God and 1. love. the godly: for Faith worketh by love, Gal. 5. 6. 2. cleanness of the 2. Purity of heart. thoughts and affections. For Faith purifieth the heart. It makes a man strive after inward purity, as well as outward: to get a clean heart as well as clean hands. It worketh humiliation for inward sins as well as outward, Act. 15. 9 and drives a man to seek pardon in the name of Christ, for all sorts of inward perturbations and secret evils. 3. Victory over the 3. Victory over the world. world. Faith overcometh the world, 1. job. 5. 4. 5: and so it doth, when it maketh a man so rest upon God, and his truth and promise, as, if he be put to it, to deny the respect of his own credit, or profit, or pleasures, or the displeasure of carnal friends, or his hopes in matters of the world; resting satisfied with the expectation of the treasures and pleasures of a better world, yielding himself over to be guided by Christ, and his truth, unto the death, Psal. 48. 14. He lives by his faith, Gal. 2. 20. 4. Humility. For a 4. Humility true faith excludes boasting of our own labours, gifts or praises; and makes us able, out of the sense of our own vileness, to acknowledge all the glory to God's free grace and love in jesus Christ, Rom. 3. 17. Gal. 3. 22. 5. The confession 5 Confession and profession of the truth. Faith will make a man speak in defence of the truth: I have believed, therefore have I spoken, saith David, Psalm 116: which the Apostles plead to prove their faith also: 2. Cor. 4. 13. 14. 6. The putting on of 6. Application of Christ's righteousness. righteousness, which is not by the works of the Law done by us. The application of, and relying upon the righteousness of jesus Christ, is the proper and only work of true faith. Rom. 10. 7. It opens a spring 7. A very spring of grace. of graces in the heart of a true Christian: he that is a true believer, is qualified with sundry heavenly gifts, which were not in him by nature; which gifts do daily discover themselves in his heart, flowing from thence, as if there were a spring of living waters in his belly. Sanctification of the spirit, and faith of the truth be inseparable, joh. 7. 38. 2. Thessalonians, 2. 13. CHAP. V. The trial of a godly man by such heavenly gifts as serve him in his journey to heaven. THus of his trial in his humiliation, and in his faith. It followeth in the third place to try him by his gifts, which are the fruits of faith. The true Christian differs from the wicked man in two sorts Two sorts of graces in a Christian. of gifts: Some of them are such gifts as are bestowed upon him from above, but serve him only for his spiritual use, while he is on the way in his journey to heaven, and so only in this life; such as are the sacred thirst: The love to the word, and means of his holiness: The spirit of supplication: The love of his enemies, and his desire after the appearance of jesus Christ. Other gifts he hath, which will accompany him home into his heavenly country, and abide upon him for ever, and are not abolished by death: such as are saving knowledge, the love of God, and the love of the godly. First therefore of those heavenly gifts which will pass away: and so he is qualified with five distinct holy gifts, which cannot be found in any reprobate. The first is his holy The holy thirst that is in the godly Christian tried by four signs. thirst, which is a heavenly kind of appetite, by which he is carried to the desire of things above nature; such as are the merits and righteousness of Christ: the favour of God: the presence of God: the full deliverance from all sin: the removing of spiritual judgements: the salvation of other men, and the like; and this thirst is a sign the more infallible. 1. Because it is constant and indelible in this life. There is no part of his life, but it continueth either in the sense of his affection, or in the judgement of his understanding, so as he accounts spiritual things to be the best things: and though at some times his affections may be the less moved after them, yet his appetite is daily renewed, as it is in the hunger, or thirst, that is bodily. 2. Because it is industrious. For this holy thirst will guide him to a careful use of all the means, by which good things may be attained; and doth not breath itself out only with sudden and vain wishes, or flashes of desire, Psal. 27. 4. 1. Pet. 2. 2. Psal. 63. 1. 2. Psalm 1. 2. Acts 2. 37. 3. Because it works a constant and secret meditation of heavenly things desired, the heart frequently seeks after God day and night. Isaiah 26. 9 Psalm 63. 1. 6. For what we desire fervently, we think on almost continually. 4. Because if the Lord quench his thirst, and satisfy his desire in spiritual things, the soul becomes as a watered garden; and then follows in him an heavenly kind of satisfaction and contentment with singular delight in the soul, and vows and wishes of infinite and eternal thankfulness, Psalm 63. 4. 5. jere. 31. 25. 26. And thus much of the first gift. Secondly, the love His trial by his love to the word. to the word is another sign that he is the child of God, and a clear evidence of his salvation. Now because all sorts of wicked men may resort to the exercises of the word, and those that have but a temporary faith may show a great estimation of the word, and find joy in the hearing of it, & show much zeal in things that concern the word, and may yield some obedience to the directions of the word also: it is profitable to consider how the true Christian may prove that his affection to the word is more sincere than that affection which any wicked man can bring to the word. And thus he may find that his heart is sound in his love to the word, by these marks. 1. By his manner of 13. Signs to try his affection to the word by. receiving it, when he doth receive the word, as the word of God, and not of men: setting his heart before God's presence, and being affected as if the Lord himself should speak unto him. This no wicked man dares do: he dares not present himself with the whole intendments of his heart before the Lord. For this sign the Apostle Paul acknowledged the Thessalonians to be true Christians, 1. Thessal. 2. 13. 2. By his Appetite to the word. For there is in a godly man as true an hunger after the word, as the food of his soul, as there is in his stomach after the food of his body; which shows itself to be the more sincere, because it is constant, he desires the word at all times, and as his appointed food daily; as it is in the bodily appetite, though after feeding the stomach may seem to be full and satisfied, yet the hunger revives again every day, so it is with the heart of a child of God: whereas wicked men regard the word but by fits, and in a passion, and then at length fall clean away from the affection to it, Psal. 119. 20. job. 23. 12. 3. By his love to them that love the word. 4. By his sorrow, because other men keep not the word, Psal. 119. 136. 5. By his unfeigned estimation of the word above all worldly things, accounting it to be an happy portion to enjoy the word in the power and profit of it, Psal. 119. 14. 72. 111. 6. By his desire & delight to exercise himself in it day and night, that is, constantly, Psal. 1. 2. 7. By his grief either for the want of the means by which the word might be taught unto him with power, accounting such want of the means to be a sore famine; or for want of success in the use of the means when he doth enjoy it, Psa. 42. 3. Am. 8. 12. 8. By the extent of his love to all the words of God, even the Law, that with threatening shows him his sin, and searcheth out his most secret corruptions; being most affected with that ministry that doth most sharply rebuke sin. 9 By his resolution to labour as hard for the food of his soul, as men do, or he would do for the food of his body, joh. 6. 27. Amos 8. 12. 10. By the constant sweet taste he finds in it, especially when it is powerfully preached, Psal. 19 10. 2. Cor. 2. 15. 11. By the end he propounds unto himself in the use of the word, which is, that he might not sin; and that his ways might be made pleasing to God, hiding the word in his heart to this purpose, Psal. 119. 11. 12. By his willingness and resolution to deny his own reason and affections, his credit, his carnal friends, his profits, or his pleasures in any thing, when God should so require it of him, and upon any occasion to show his hearty respect of the Gospel, Mar. 10. 2. 9 1. Cor. 1. 18. 13. By the effects of it: as, 1. When for the love he bears to the word; he will separate himself from the wicked, that might any way withdraw his heart, or endanger his disobedience, Psal. 119. 115. 2. When he accounts the word to be his chief comfort in affliction, & finds it to be the main stay, and solace of his heart, Psal. 119. 23. 24. 50. 51. 54. 143. 3. When it works in him effectually the redress of his ways, and freedom from the dominion of sin, joh. 8. 33. Psal. 119. 45. 9 59 1. Thes. 2. 13. 4. When it works in him certain and sensible assurance of heart before God. This assurance is an infallible sign of the right use of the word, 1. Thess. 1. 5. And thus of the second gift. The third gift is the His trial by his gift of prayer. spirit of prayer or supplication, as the Prophet Zacharie calls it, Zach. 12. 10: and this gift he hath above all wicked men, which he shows many 13. Rules of trial. ways: as, 1. He asks according to Gods will, 1. joh. 5. 14. 2. He prays with persuasion that God will hear him. He believeth in some measure that he shall have what he prays for. He prays in faith, Mark. 11. 14. jam. 1. 6. 7. Psal. 6. 9 1. joh. 3. 19 22. 3. He prays in the name of Christ, and is affected with the sense of his own vileness, and relies upon the merits and mediation of jesus Christ, joh. 14. 13. Psal. 86. 1. 2. & 143. 4. 4. He will pray at all times, job 27. 9 Psalm 106. 2. 5. He is fervent in prayer: his heart prayeth: he hath the affections of prayer, jam. 5. 16. Psal. 6. 8. 6. Prayer makes him exceeding weary of the world: it gives him such a taste of his own sinfulness, and of God's goodness, and of the glory of heaven, that he is vehemently carried with desire to be absent from the body, that he might be present with the Lord, Psal. 39 12. 7. When he knows not how to pray as he ought, the Spirit prepares his heart, excites in him holy desires, supplies him sometimes with words, sometimes with affections, and sometimes worketh inward unexpressible groans, which yet it presents to God, as effectual prayers, Ro. 8. 26. 27. 8. He finds an holy rest, and quietness in his conscience and heart, with spiritual boldness and confidence of trust in God, if he hear him graciously, and answer him in mercy, Psal. 3. 4. 5. 6. & 116. 1. 7. & 91. 15. 17. jerem. 33. 3. 9 He loves the Lord exceedingly for hearing his prayer, and desires to keep himself in the love of God, Psal. 116. 1. Jude 20. 10. His prayers proceed from a heart that loves no sin, but desires to departed from iniquity, and to do that which is pleasing in God's sight, 2. Tim. 2. 19 1. joh. 3. 22. 11. He loves prayer in others, 2. Tim. 1. 22. 12. He strives against deadness of spirit and distractions, as an heavy burden, Psal. 86. 3. 4. 13. He makes prayer his chief refuge; and he will pray, though prayer be in never so much disgrace, Psal. 69. 10. 13. & 142. 2. 5. And thus of the third gift. The fourth gift is the love of his enemies. Any His love to his enemies tried. Christian may love such as love him; but to love his enemies, is only to be found in the true Christian, which he proves by these tokens of the sincerity of his love: 1. He can pray hearty for them, yea in some cases he can mourn, & humble his soul before God for them in their distresses, Psal. 35. 13. 14. 2. He desires their conversion so unfeignedly, that he is sure, if they were converted, he could rejoice in them as hearty, as in those he now much delights in. 3. He can likewise forgive them their particular trespasses against him; being more grieved for their sins against God, them for the wrongs they do him, Mat. 6. 14. 4. He can freely acknowledge their just praises. 5. He can not only patiently endure their revilings, but can forbear, when he could be revenged by bringing shame or misery upon them, 1. Pet. 3. 9 Rom. 12. 14. 1. Sam. 24. 18. 19: yea he doth, as he hath occasion, strive to overcome their evil with goodness, being willing to help them, or relieve them in their misery, and do them any good for the soul or body. The last gift which is found in the true Christian, His trial by the love to the appearing of Christ. while he is in the way in this life, is, His love of the appearing of Christ, which he shows: 1. By the longing after the time of Christ's coming, whether by death or judgement. 2. By his gladness at the promises, or signs of his particular or general coming. 3. By his often meditations of that day, and his hearty prayers for the hastening of it, Reu. 22. 10. 4. By his daily care to dispatch all those godly duties which he desires to do before his death, and accordingly by his willing disposing of his estate, and endeavours to set his house in order: And this desire of Christ's coming is apparently the more sincere in him: 1. Because it ariseth out of his love to God, and his hatred of his own sins, and his weariness under the observation of other men's sins. 2. Because this desire is accompanied with the care of the means, by which he may be prepared for salvation. 3. Because he is thus affected even in his prosperity when he thrives in the world, and is not in any notable distress. Hitherto of his trial in such gifts as he is endowed withal in this life only: his trial in the gifts that will abide in him for ever, follow. CHAP. VI His trial in respect of such heavenly gifts as will not be abolished by death. THe gifts that will abide in him for ever The trial of his knowledge. are these three: Knowledge, the love of God, and the love of the brethren. These are perfected, and not abolished by death. And first, in his knowledge And so he differs from wicked men. he differs from all wicked men, and so in divers things: as, First in the things he In the things he knows. knows: he knows the nature of God in a right manner: he knows God in jesus Christ: he knows the vileness of his own sins: he knows after an effectual manner the mysteries that concern the salvation of his soul: he knows his own conversion, and the forgiveness of his sins, and the things that are given him of God: Mat. 13. 13. john 17. 3. jere. 31. 34. 1. Cor. 2. 12. He knows that jesus Christ is in him, 2. Cor. 13. 5. 2. Secondly, in the 2. In the cause of his knowledge. cause of his knowledge. For flesh and blood did not reveal those things unto him, he came not by them by the use of natural means, but they are wrought in him by the word & Spirit of God, Mat. 16. 17. 1. john 2. 27. and 5. 10. 1. Cor. 1. 30. Thirdly, in the effects 3. In the effects of his knowledge. of his knowledge, for 1. It breeds in him an unspeakable refreshing and gladness of heart in God's presence, Psal. 36. 8. 9 10. Philip. 1. 9 2. It inflames him to a wonderful love of the word of God above all earthly things, Psal. 119. 97. 98. 3. It works in him an effectual savouring and tasting of the goodness of spiritual things: Ro. 8. 5. 4. It inclines him to a constant obedience and practice of God's will, Pro. 8. 9 17. john 7. 17. Deut. 4. 6. It redresseth his ways, Psal. 119. 10. 1. joh. 2. 3. and 3. 24. 5. It beats down pride and conceitedness, and frowardness, and makes him humble and teachable, Pro. 3. 5. 6. and 8. 13. 14. james 3. 17. Fourthly, in the properties 4. In the properties of his knowledge of his knowledge: for 1. It is infallible: his knowledge hath much assurance in many things with strong confidence, and resolution at some times especially, when he is before God, 1. Thes. 1. 5. 2. It is indelible, it cannot be utterly blotted out, it is fast graven in his heart; contrary doctrine, or persecution cannot raze it out, jere. 31. 34. Eph. 4. 13. Prou. 4. 5. 6. 3. It is sincere, for first it inclineth him to give glory to God, and receive all truth, as well as any truth. He receives the doctrine of God, though it be above reason, and against the common opinion of men, or cross his profit, or desires, or the like. Secondly, it leads him principally to understand his own way, and guides him to study the things chief that concern his own reformation and salvation, Pro. 14. 8. Colos. 3. 16. And thus he differs from wicked men in his knowledge. Secondly, in his love His love to God tried by 9 signs. to God he hath these things, which no wicked man can attain to. 1. He hath a deliberate inward inflamed estimation of God above all things, accounting his loving kindness better than life, and the signs of his favour his greatest joy, Psal. 63. 2. 11. 2. He loves & longs for the Lord jesus Christ with certain & sincere affection, Ephes. 6. 24. 2. Tim. 4. 8. 3. He delights in God's presence, and shows it by his unfeigned love to God's house, Psalm 26. 8: and by his hearty grief for God's absence, Cant. 3. 1: and by his carefulness to set the Lord daily before him, walking in his sight Psal. 16. 8. 4. He hates sin hearty because God hates it; and he dislikes sinners, because they hate God; accounting Gods enemies as if they were his own enemies, Psal. 139. 21. 22. and 97. 10. 5. He constantly desires to be like God in holiness, being careful to approve his affection to God by his obedience to his commandments, so as it is not grievous to him to receive directions, but serves God with all his heart, being fearful to displease God in any thing, joh. 14. 21. 1. Io. 5. 3. Deut. 10. 12. and 11. 22: & is more affected with God's approbation then all the praise of men, Rom. 2. 26. 6. He is much affected with God's mercy, & the blessings bestowed upon him, which he thankfully remembers to the praise of God's free grace, Esa. 63. 7. Psal. 63. 2. 3. 4. 6. 8. & 107. 22. job 36. 24. Deut. 6. 2. 7. He loves all the godly for this reason chief, because they are like unto God in holiness, as being begotten by him, 1. joh. 5. 1. 8. He is as hearty vexed for any dishonour done to God, as for any disgrace offered to himself. 9 Finally he shows it in divers cases that befall him in his course in this life: as, 1. If he be put to suffer any thing for God's sake, he endures it with much joy and patience, 1. Thess. 1. 6. Act. 5. john 22. 15, to 19 2. If at any time he offend God by his own faultiness, he is hearty grieved and cast down, and doth constantly desire to forsake any sin, though never so pleasing or gainful unto him, rather than he would displease God, Deut. 30. 6. 3. In all straits and wants, he runs to God, relying upon God as his defence, rock, and refuge in all times of troubles, making his moan unto him, and pouring out his prayers and complaints before him, Psal. 18. 1. 2. Thus of his love to God. Thirdly, his love to His love to the godly tried by ten signs. the godly doth also distinguish him from all the wicked men in the world, because here are divers things to be noted in his affection to them, which cannot be found in wicked men: 1. As first, he loves the godly above all other sorts of men in the world, he accounts them as the only excellent people, Psal 16. 3. 1. joh. 3. 14. and affects them as if they were his natural kindred, Rom. 12. 9 10. 2. He loves them not for carnal respects, but for the graces of God in them, for the truth's sake, and because they are begotten of God, 1. joh. 5. 1. 2. joh. 1. 2. 3. joh. 1. 3. He delights in their fellowship and society in the Gospel, as accounting them the happy companions of this life, Psal. 16. 3. 3. joh. 8. Philippians 1. 5. 4. He hath a fellow feeling of their miseries: he is in some measure affectioned to weep with them that weep, and rejoice with them that rejoice; especially he is glad when their souls prosper: Rom. 12. 16. 3. joh. 3. 5. His desire is to walk inoffensively, as being loath any way to be an occasion of stumbling, or scandal to any Christian, 1 joh. 2. 10. 6. He can bear their infirmities, take things in the best sense, suffer long, & is not easily provoked: he hopeth all things, and boasts not himself, or envies them, nor will receive an evil report against them, 1. Pet. 4. 8. 1. Cor. 13. 4. 5. 6. but rather makes Apology for them. 7. He easily praiseth them in all places for their grace, or obedience, Rom. 16. 19 3. joh. 6. Psal. 15. 5. 1. Thess. 1. 8. 8. His well-doing extends itself to them to his power, he is bountiful, pitiful, and tender; he hath bowels of mercy, according to the occasion of mercy, either corporal or spiritual. He gladly receiveth them, and with a ready mind communicates to their necessities, Philemon 7. 1. Pet. 3. 8. & 4. 8. 1. john 3. 17. 3. joh. 5. 9 He loves all the brethren. He hath not the glorious faith of Christ in respect of persons, jam. 2. 1. 2. Eph. 1. 5. Col. 1. 4. He can make himself equal to them of the lower sort, Rom. 12. 16. 10. Lastly he loves them at all times, even when they are in adversity, disgrace, sickness, or any other misery. Hitherto of the godly man's trial by his gifts. CHAP. VII. The trial of the godly man by his works of obedience. THe fourth way to His works tried by 7. signs. try him, is by his works, or by his obedience in his life and conversation; and so his works excel all the works of unregenerate men many ways: as, 1. Because what he doth, ariseth out of the love he hears to God and goodness; and therefore he doth good hearty, and not by constraint, or with repining, or delay: yea he is so stirred up with the sense of God's goodness to him, that he is much humbled when he hath done his best, that he cannot bring more glory to God, Deut. 30. 20. Josh. 22. 5. Mat. 4. 19 Rom. 6. 27. 2. In doing good he hath respect unto all God's commandments: there is no part of an holy life but he desires to practise it; and therefore he will obey Gods will in some cases when it is against his profit, credit, ease, or the liking of carnal friends, preferring Gods commandments above all things, yea life itself, jer. 35. Heb. 11. 8. Gen. 22. 12. Prou. 7. 2. Act. 5. 29. Mat. 16. 25. Exod. 15. 26. 1. Kin. 9 4. jer. 11. 4. john 15. 14. 3. He will do good at all times, and not for a fit; making conscience of his ways in all companies as well as any; absent as well as present; before mean Christians, as well as before the best: at home as well as abroad, Phil. 2. 12. Gal. 5. 7. 2. Kin. 18. 6. Psal. 106. 2. 4. He makes conscience of the least commandment as well as of the greatest, Mat. 5. 19 Gal. 3. 7. 5. He comes to the light, that his deeds might be manifest, that they are wrought in God, joh. 3. 21. He is desirous in all things to be guided by the warrant of the word of God. 6. He exerciseth his faith in the very discharge of the duties of his outward conversation. He lives by the faith of the Son of God, and commits his way to God, and trusteth upon the name of the Lord, Gal. 2. 20. 7. He knoweth that his obedience is right, because God heareth his prayers, and entertains him graciously, when he calls upon him in secret; whereas God heareth not sinners; and if wickedness were in his heart, God would not regard his prayers, joh. 9 31. Psal. 66. 18. And thus of his works. CHAP. VIII. His trial by the entertainment he hath from God. THe fifth way by which he may be tried, is by the entertainment that God vouchsafeth him in this life, which he never vouchsafeth to wicked men. There are divers Six favours God bestows upon him which the wicked never feel. 1. Election in time. specialties of favour which God showeth to him, and not to any unregenerate man: As 1. His election in time is a manifest token of God's election of him before time: the Lord shows that he hath chosen him from everlasting, when by the power of the Gospel he seizeth upon him particularly, & effectually persuades him to leave the world, and the sinful society he lived in, and to devote himself as a living sacrifice unto God. 2. He is baptised with 2. The baptism by fire. the holy Ghost and fire: the baptism by fire is only proper to God's Elect: the holy Ghost at some times falls upon him, & sets him all on a fire, on a fire I say, both of sudden and violent indignation at sin, as it is sin; as also the fire of holy affections, with which from God he frequently and on a sudden is inflamed, while he stands before the Lord. For beside the affection which a godly man bringeth with him to God's worship, he doth feel his heart oftentimes on a sudden surprised with strange impressions, sometimes of sorrow, sometimes of fear and awful dread of God; sometimes of fervent desires after God: sometimes of strong resolutions of holy duties to be done by him, and the like, Math. 3. 11. 3. He feels at sometimes 3. Much assurance. in the use of God's ordinances a marvelous work of the holy Ghost, in respect of much assurance & strange establishment of his heart, both in the certain persuasion of God's love, and the infallible belief of the truth; so as at that time no danger or death could amaze him, but he could willingly witness his confidence by undergoing any thing could befall him, 1. Thess. 1. 5. 4. He feels at sometimes 4. joy unspeakable. the unspeakable & glorious joys of the holy Ghost, which are differing from the carnal joys or illusions may be found in wicked men, because they are such joys, as he feels only in the use of some ordinances of God, and such as by effect make him more humble, and vile in his own eyes, and do inflame him to an high degree of the love of God and goodness; which illusions can never do. 5. The sanctification of 5. The sanctification of his afflictions. his afflictions is another infallible sign of God's love to him. For God makes his crosses to become blessings unto him, & work his good, so as he may plainly see, that it was good for him to be afflicted: & beside, God gives him many times the experience of his goodness both by unexpected consolation in his distresses, & gracious deliverance out of themâ–ª Rom. 8. 28. Ps. 119. 6. Lastly, to this place 6. The answer of his prayers. I may refer Gods hearing & answering of his prayers; whereas God doth not hear sinners, as was showed in the end of the former Chapter. CHAP. IX. His trial by the Sacraments. THe sixth & last way Six rules of his trial about the sacrament. of trial of the estate of a Christian, is by the Sacraments, and in particular by the Sacrament of the Lords supper. For God hath appointed the two Sacraments to be his broad seals to assure his favour unto his people: and because none but worthy receivers can be partakers of so great a privilege as the covenant of God's grace, and the Gospel of jesus Christ: therefore hereby doth the true Christian distinguish himself from all men. For in becoming a worthy receiver he doth divers things not only required in communicants, but such as none but godly men can attain unto: As, 1. He doth forgive his enemies, as hearty as he desires God to forgive him his trespasses. 2. He examines himself, and upon examination he both eats with sour herbs (that is, comes with some measure of grief for his offences) and withal finds as unfeigned a desire, that he might never offend God in any thing as that God should there assure him of the forgiveness of his sins, and that he will never punish him for any of them, 1. Cor. 11. 3. The covenant of his heart is to cleave to God, and the care of godliness all the days of his life, 1. Cor. 5. 8. 4. He is in some measure persuaded of God's love to him in Christ's, & discerns the Lord's body, so as he is secretly in some degree persuaded of the spiritual presence of jesus Christ, & of the operation of God: so as he believeth, that Christ will as certainly nourish his soul, as the outward elements can any way be fit to nourish his body, Mar. 16. 16. Col. 2. 12. 1. Cor. 11. 5. He sometimes feels the holy Ghost inwardly, setting to God's privy seal by sudden refresh falling like the dew upon his heart, and establishing his soul before the Lord, Eph. 1. 13. 1. Cor. 1. 12. 6. His heart is knit unto the godly more and more, and increaseth in his resolution to cleave to them only, and forsake all other professions of men in the world; loving them unfeignedly, and desiring for ever to be a partaker of their lot. 1. Cor. 10. 16. CHAP. X. The directions that show him how to get assurance by the help of these signs. HItherto of the signs of the godly man. Now follows the course that the weak Christian should take by the use of the former signs of trial, to establish his heart in the assurance of God's favour, and his own eternal salvation. My advice is therefore, that the weak Christian that finds want of establishment and clear assurance, should take the former signs of trial, & go apart, and set himself in God's presence, emptying his heart of worldly distractions, and seriously consider of every rule of trial apart; and gather out into some little paper-book so much as in every sign he can clearly find to be in himself, and that which he durst through God's mercy resolutely avouch to be wrought in him by the grace of God. And this I would have him to do with deliberation, trying himself by one or two of the chief heads at most in a day, spending no more time about it then he may well allow, without weariness or dullness. Now because he may be perhaps discouraged with the observation of divers things, which he may find wanting in himself in every sign; he must therefore take some sound notice of the distinction of Christians made by the Apostle john, 1. joh. 2, who casts all true Christians into three sorts. Some are Infants, and either new borne, or but weakly qualified with the graces of Christ: yet are right, & have true grace in some measure. Others are strong men, that is, such as have the gifts of the Spirit lively and in their power in them. Others are Fathers, that is, such as have had long experience in the powerful practice of godliness, and have been long exercised in all kinds of well-doing. Now all these three sorts may be supposed to come to these signs. The weak Christian only takes to a few of the plainest marks in the explication of each sign. The strong Christian he takes to the most of the marks. The Fathers they in a manner discern all the particulars of God's graces, and the several workings of them. Each of these, even the weak Christian may see so much as may stay his heart in assurance, & so settle his faith & joy. When there are many signs of one & the self-same thing, it is sufficient if it can be demonstrated, though it be but a few ways, seeing every particular mark being warranted by Scripture, hath force to conclude for assurance, and to prove, that we differ from all the wicked men in the world. Though at the first in reading but a sign or two, thou get but a few things may comfort thee, yet hold out till thou come to the end of all the signs, & then thou shalt see a fair army (as it were of arguments) to prove thy election and salvation. For whereas the most and best of us, if we be asked this question, By what marks do we know that we are the true children of God, & not wicked men? If we answer on a sudden, and by present memory, we can scarce give two sound reasons to prove the infallibility of our happy estate: which shows, that the most of us live at a great uncertainty. Now he that hath gone through the signs, shall find perhaps 20, or 30, or 40 several and distinct arguments or marks, which when he hath collected them all together, may serve to answer all the objections of all the devils in hell. The gates of hell cannot prevail against his faith: which I declare thus: If the devil say, thou art a wicked man, and an hypocrite; thou mayest readily answer, that by the grace of God in jesus Christ thou art none such; and mayest put the devil to prove by the word of God, that ever any wicked man did attain to all those signs thou hast collected. Which, because it cannot be done, thou mayest with much rest and full assurance commit thyself to God, and bind thyself by covenant, never more to dishonour him by such unbelief, as to call his love & thy salvation into question. If a threefold cord cannot be broken, how weak then should thy heart be, if thou shouldst fear thy estate, unto which God hath so sealed, and so many ways marked thee out for himself? And for thy further satisfaction: after thou hast collected thy signs together, thou mayest carry them to thy godly Pastor, and desire him to peruse them, and accordingly to give thee his ministerial testimony concerning them in the name of jesus Christ; and this may add much satisfaction & rest to thy conscience. If in reading any of the signs, thou find any special doubts; at any hand suppress them not, but seek resolution from doubt to doubt, and from sign to sign. Thou mayst gain much profitable knowledge by propounding these cases of thy particular conscience. The least gain that can be imagined by this course, is, that whereas before thou hadst few evidences or none for thy estate, thou shalt now have many of all sorts: and it must needs be thy own waywardness, if assurance follow not. For these signs will ransack thee, and try thy very heart and reins, and all thy secretest desires and practices. Yea this benefit thou mayst reap by the signs, that they will tell thee all the days of thy life, how it is with thee, whether thou go forward or back ward. For if by examination now thou gather out all thou canst find by thyself, these will not only lie by thee to help thee against any temptation at any time; but beside, if thou try thyself again, either against the next Sacrament, or the next year, thou mayest discern what ground thou hast gotten or lost. If thou prosper, thou wilt discern it, by taking in divers things in each sign, which before thou durst not acknowledge; and besides it will excellently show thee what thou wantest in each grace of God, & so what thou shouldest set thyself about to get thy wants supplied. It will at all times make a true Anatomy of thy estate; which to the well-advised Christian ought to be accounted a matter of great moment. The God of peace give thee all peace and joy in believing. If thou receive any good by this Treatise, praise God, and pray for me. FINIS.