2.00p Preface

Preface

It is the blessed privilege obtained by our Saviour for his people, that sincere though imperfect sanctification is graciously accepted of God the judge of all. This sincere holiness is strictly and indispensably required "by the law of faith, in the hand of the Mediator:" without it we cannot partake of the treasures of mercy and of glory that are revealed in the gospeL It is therefore a matter that infinitely concerns us, both in respect of our present peace and fixture blessedness, to make a true discovery of our uprightness. And usually all the fears and inquiries about oar spiritual state issue in this, whether we are upright or not? The assurance of our uprightness, is a fountain of relief in all perplexing jealousies about the favour of God: far notwithstanding our defects, "he will spare us, as a father spares his son that serves him." This great question of our sincerity may be cleared by a due observing our hearts and ways: for conscience is an inseparable faculty of the soul, and even in the heathen accused or excused, as their actions were exorbitant or regular according to the internal law, and consequently gave testimonies of their wickedness, or moral integrity. The scripture indeed tells us, "the heart of man is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it ?" But this primarily respects the discerning it by others; as the apostle saith, "who knows the things of a man, save the spirit of a mana which is in him?" There may be the affectation of the name of religion, joined with a disaffection to the thing: there may be solemn formality without cordial godliness; an acting of piety and personating devotion for vile ends. But though the impure artist under a veil of hypocrisy may be concealed from others, yet he is not from the conviction of his own mind.

I shall add further, that many from ignorance or carelessness, may presume they are in a state of salvation, when they are "in the gall of bitterness, and bond of iniquity." There are many carnal shifts made use of to palliate the evil condition of men’s souls, but their security proceeds from the neglect of due examining their hearts and lives. It will be a vain excuse at the last day, "to plead, the serpent beguiled me : for it is not merely our deceivableness, but willingness to be deceived, that exposes us to mistake our spiritual condition by the insinuations of satan. As the wise philosopher observes, a man is the first and principal flatterer of himself, and therefore apt to be deceived by other flatterers. But if we take "the candle of the Lord," and impartially search ourselves, though the heart be such a dark labyrinth, that every secret turning cannot be discovered; though all the deflections and errors of our ways cannot be exactly known, yet we may understand the habitual frame of our hearts, and the course of our lives.

It is the end of the following sermons, to direct men in the discussion of conscience, that they may not from an erring mind, and corrupt heart, deceive themselves in a matter that so nearly concerns them, and incur the double punishment in proportion to their guilt, as our Saviour foretels, "When the blind lead the blind, both fall into the ditch."

Many useful rules are laid down by divines, whereby true grace may be discerned from counterfeit: but the plainest trial and level to the perception of the lowest christian, is, whether there be a sincere respect to all God’s commands, without the reservation of any known sin, how pleasant soever, to the carnal appetites, or the exception against any known duty that is displeasing to them. If men would retire from the vanities and business of the world into themselves, and search their spirits with that seriousness that is due to so weighty a matter; if with a resolution to know the state of their souls, if conscience were inquisitive as under God’s eye, that has a full prospect into every breast, they might have an inward testimony of their sincerity or deceitfulness. The apostle’ refers the decision of our state with respect to God, to the testimony of the enlightened conscience: £if our hearts condemn us not," (of any habitual indulged sin) "then we have peace towards God. If our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and knows all things." From the neglect of trying themselves, many live in a cloud of delusion, and from inward darkness pass to outer darkness for ever.