mine, whether we be in the faith or not. And this fpeaks the following things.

1. The neceffity of the knowledge of the faith, both of the doctrine of faith in fundamentals, and the grace of faith as to the nature of it, though it be not an experimental knowledge. No body can examine themselves on a point they have no notion of: fo that thofe who are grofsly ignorant of the nature of faith, are quite incapable of felf-examination in this point, but juft walk on in darknefs and confusion to their own ruin, 1 John ii. 11. How much then does it concern all to cultivate the knowledge both of the doctrine and grace of faith?

2. Men profeffing faith may yet be void of it. They may feem to be in the faith, in a gracious ftate, who are yet in unbelief, and in the gall of bitterness: otherwife there would be no need of felf-examination on that head. There is no need of it in heaven or hell; for there are no false colours worn there; nor do any there feem to be any more but what really they are. But here in the vifible church are foolish virgins as well as wife, and foolish builders as well as thofe who are not fo. Great is the need then of felf-examination,

3. The certain knowledge of our eftate, whether we be in the faith or not, gracious or gracelefs, may be attained in the ufe of ordinary means, without extraordinary revelation. Self-examination and probation is that means, 2 Pet. i. 10. Give all diligence to make your calling and election fure Many complain they can never get to a point in that matter: but let them inform their judgement as to the nature and evidences of faith; let them lay afide their lazinefs, and their untender walking, fhewing a precife regard to the duties of morality; and it will not be to hard. But when people remain in confufion as to the nature and evidences of faith, cannot bring themselves to the bar, and continue untender in their walk, what can be expected? Hence our Lord fays, Matth. vi. 23. If thine eye be evil, thy whole body jhall be full of darkness. If therefore the

light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkuefs! And fays the wife man, Prov, x. 4. He becometh poor that dealeth with a flack hand. Whereas diligence in the Chriftian walk, and tender walking in the way of the Lord, are happy means of getting marks of faith. Hence Chrift fays, John xiv. 21. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, be it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me, fhall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifeft myself to him.

4. There is a rule of trial and felf-examination gi

ven.

That we are bid examine ourselves, fays there is a rule given we are to examine ourselves by, Hence the beloved difciple fays, 1 John v. 13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. God's word is a looking-glafs wherein good and bad may fee their true image, if they will. It is a fire that fe parates the good metal and drofs; it is our way mark, thewing where we are for the prefent, whither we are going, and pointing to the right way, This fears many at the Bible, and it is but few that make this proper ufe of it, but fcurf it over, O Sirs, regard God's word, and try your state by it, for it is a lure and infallible rule, nay the only rule for it,

5. There is a faculty of felf-judging in man, other, wife he were incapable of examining himfelf. Hence the wife man fays, Prov. xx. 27. The spirit of a man is the candle of the Lord, fearching all the inward parts of the belly. This candle, whether thining with the light of reafon only, or with the light of grace alfo, is ca pable to make the difcovery. Even the foolish virgins law at length that their lamps were gone out. And all are made to fee they are not in the faith, before they are brought into it. So then you may, if ye will, erect this court of examination within your own breast, your own foul and confcience being both judge and party; but it is only a fubordinate judge, whofe fentence if wrong will not ftand, but be overthrown by

the fupreme Judge, by whofe law the decifion must

be made.

6. Lastly, A clofe applying of that felf-judging faculty for the trial of that point. Hence the pfalmift faith this was his practice, Pfal. lxxvii. 6. I commune with mine own heart, and my fpirit made diligent fearch. The man muft rouse up himfelf, as peremptory to know his ftate; muft inform himfelf of the rule he is to be judged by, fet it before him, and apply his own cafe impartially to it, that he may fee how they agree, and how the decifion is to be made. Say not ye cannot do this. Ye can examine whether ye be in a wealthy or ftraitened condition; when fomething is laid to your charge, whether ye be guilty or not; and whether ye be in fuch a one's favour or not. Only ye cannot, because ye will not examine yourfelves, whether ye be in the faith. O Sirs, roufe up yourfelves to this important exercife, fhake off all lazy delays, and fet about it vigorously.

Secondly, Self-probation. Ye muft prove yourselves. This fpeaks,

1 Ye must not take the matter of your ftate upon trust, hoping the beft without due evidence, and ftopping there, like the perfon of whom it is faid, If. xliv. 20. He feedeth of afbes: a deceived heart hath turned him afide, that he cannot deliver his foul, nor fay, Is there not a lie in my right hand? That is an eafy way indeed, but very unfafe; as was the cafe of Laodicea, Rev. iii. 17. unto whom our Lord fays, Becaufe thou fayeft, I am rich, and increafed with goods, and, have need of nothing; and knoweft not that thou art, wretched, and miferable, and poor, and blind, and naked, Men entering on felf-examination find it difficult and thorny, and they fhrink back, contenting themselves to hope well, on they know not what grounds: fo the examination is broken off, ere the matter is brought to a proof. If the examination before the tribunal of God could be fhifted that way, and the decifion made in mens favour as fuperficially, the

matter were the lefs. But there the examination muft go through, and the decision must be made, according to, not mens groundless hopes, but the reality of things; according to what Bildad fays, Job viii. 13. 14. So are the paths of all that forget God, and the hypocrite's hope fhall perish: Whofe hope fhall be cut off, and whofe truft fhall be a spider's web.

2. The matter may, through a close examination, be brought to a decifive proof, however dark and intricate it may feem to be; otherwife we would not be bid prove ourfelves. Men may, by close examination of themselves, and thoroughly fifting their own hearts, discover that in and about them which, according to the word, is decifive of their ftate, good or bad. Which will leave men inexcufable, in not pur. fuing for it, but contentedly walking on in darkness. Clofely ply the duty according to fcripture-rules, and ye will find out how matters stand.

3. We must not flop, but purfae our felf-examina tion, till we come to that proof, and fo come to a point in the matter on trial. Thruft forward refolutely, looking to the Lord for light, and his help in the fearch: he will roll away ftones of difficulty, and make darknefs light before you; remembering what Chrift fays, Matth. xiii. 12. Whofoever bath, to him fhall be given, and he shall have more abundance. And fuppofe ye fhould not reach that proof at one time, ye muft carry on the examination at another time, and fo from time to time, till ye reach the proof. This is your duty; and if ye ftedfaftly persist therein, ye will bring matters to a crifis.

4. Laftly, Having reached the proof of your state, whether ye be in the faith or not, pronounce judgement thereon, whether it be good or bad. This is the end for which the felf examination is gone thro', and the proof was fearched out, that you may there. on form a certain conclufion, whether ye be in the faith or not. And it is neceffary fo to do, that if ye find ye are not in faith, ye may give no fleep to your

eyes, nor flumber to your eye-lids, till ye be brought into that happy state; and that if ye find you are in the faith, ye may give God the glory of it, and improve your bleffed condition to his honour.

I fhall conclude with an ufe of exhortation. Sirs, examine ye yourselves, whether ye be in the faith, and cease not till ye bring the matter to a proof, a decifive point.

Before I prefs this exhortation with motives, I will take notice of fome impediments in the way that keep men back from felf-examination.

1. Their being carried away with the things of this world, as with a flood, that they can mind nothing elfe, and have a heart for no other bufinefs. Some are fo overwhelmed with worldly cares and fecular business, that any folid care or concern about their falvation is quite warded off, and there is no accefs for the fame. Hence our Lord cautions his disciples, Luke xxi. 34. Take heed to yourselves, left at any time your hearts be overcharged with furfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and fo that day come upon you unawares. Some are fo drenched in the vanity and pleasures of the world, that they have neither mind of it, nor heart or hand for it. Madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead, and are at their place, before ever they have put this matter to a trial. O Sirs, guard against this exceffive attachment to the world, which will prove ruinous in the end. 2. Love to carnal ease predominant. Spiritual floth is fo mafterly over thofe that give up themselves to it, that, in the midst of warnings from heaven, from without and from within, they must have their eafe, and keep undisturbed, coft what it will. Hence fays Solomon, Prov. vi. 9. 10. 11. How long wilt thou feep, O fuggard? when wilt thou arife out of thy fleep? Yet a little fleep, a little fumber, a little folding of the hands to fleep. So fhall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man. But O what a VOL. III. 3 F