Page:Saints' duty in evil times (1).pdf/18

 Twelfthly, These come not unto Christ, who have only the common operation of the Spirit, upon the affection within, and resting there, conclude that all is well with them. We have already spoken of the danger of resting upon apprehended sorrow for sin, so there may be much also of the flashes of joy, tenderness and heart meltings, which hypocrites may have at sometimes by another. Consider these who were John’s hearers, John v. 35. ‘Who for a season rejoiced in his light.’ O! beware of gospel hypocrites, take not flashes for conversion. If it could be determined how great a length hypocrites may come, we think it would fift here. O what shall we say of it! do what they will, and come as great a length as they can, they never come unto Christ, who are not fully denied to themselves, and positively rest only upon Jesus Christ, for justification and sanctification. True faith hath two voices. First, it call and cries, O sinner, lean not to thyself, rest not there. Secondly, O sinner, rest on Jesus Christ, and lean unto himself.

Use. Now O believers, search and try yourselves, set about it earnestly, this is your work, and it will not be done slumbering and sleeping: there are many of you here this day, who are not come the length of some of these steps, which we have named; yea, ye may come thro’ them all everyone, and if ye go not further, ye will never win to Christ: And in his name I tell you, ‘Except your righteousness exceed the Scribes and Pharisees, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.’

Ye know, we gave you some hints of these who are the Lord’s people, viz. These who have ‘come unto Christ,’ and are made righteous, and live righteously: And for the more clearing of it, we now declare who these are, who have come unto him, by giving some marks and evidences, how the same may be known. We are not speaking of ‘being in