"ly valuing of it, as we should; not fufficient"ly admiring that miracle of Divine bounty, "wherein the love of God was fo wonderfully "manifefted towards us, in fending his only "begotten fonne into the world, that we might "live through him,

"IV. Making light of Chrift, and underva "luing the great love of our bleffed Redeemer, "treading under foot the Merits of the Sonne of "God, and prophaning the blood of the Covenant, and thereby labouring to render Chrifts paffion of none effect; not counting all things "Ioffe and dung in comparison of the excellency "of the knowledge of Chrift Jefus our Lord "not counting him all in all, not rejoycing, and glorying in him, and him crucified, by whom alone we receive atonement; not esteeming his favour and loving kindneffe better than life it felf.

"V. Not living by Faith in all eftates and "conditions, not embracing the promises of the Gofpel, with fo much readineffe, and adhering to them with so much stedfastneffe, as the excellency and certainty of them does require; not improving nor applying this rich treasure of Gofpel-promifes, unto the various occafions of this temporal life; not looking upon them as our Heritage, and esteeming them the joy of our hearts.

"VI. Being apt to rely on our own righteouf

004

"neffe

"neffe, our own fervices or Graces; and there by endeavouring (as much as in us lies) to deprive Chrift of his Saviourship,

"VII. Not owning Chrift in all his offices not being willing to accept of him, as well "for our Lord as our Saviour; for our Prophe "to guide us, as well as for our Prieft to make "atonement for us; not being willing to be o bedient to his Lawes and Precepts; to be fanctified by his Grace and holy Spirit, as "well as to be faved by his merits; & this hear "of unbelief does prove many times a root of apoftacy, and departure from the living God.

The fecond fin against the Gospel is Impenitency which hath feveral degrees also. "I. When notwithstanding God hath in fome meafuri "discovered to us our miferable, and loft con "dition by reafon of the Covenant of works, "(which admitted of no repentance) we have "not yet humbled our felves in any proportic to the multitude and greatneffe of our fins, "though the Gospel and Covenant of Grace call us to it, and require it of us, as that with fout which we are not to expect pardon.

II. Not being inquifitive after our fins, nor endeavouring to examine and find out or particular failings, but rather to hide and ex 'cufe them.

III, Not being humbled and grieved fo

them.

se them, confidering the great injuftice, folly, "unkindneffe we have expreffed by them.

IV. Not refolving and ftriving against them, not improving advantages for the a"voiding and fubduing of them.

"V. Refufing to repent, though God "youchfafe time and means, hardning the "heart by a custome and delight in fin, being "prone to maintain, juftific, or extenuate "fin.

And thus much of the fins against the Lam and against the Gospel. Upon these Heads not only fick perfons, but fuch as are in health alfo fhould examine themselves, when they intend more folemnly to bumble their foules before the Lord. And they may have further helps herein from Dr, Wilkins's difcourfe concerning the gift of prayer.

When fick perfons therefore have advanced thus far, let them then in the next place ask themselves,

Thirdly, Whether they do indeed rightly understand and firmly believe the hiftory of the Gofpel? who Chrift was what manner of perfon: what were his offices? what he did and fuffered? for what ends and purposes he came into the world? Whether they understand that he came, not only to fave and deliver from Hell, and everlasting punishment, but also to destroy fin, undo the works

of

t

of the Devil, to crucifie and fubdue our tuts, tifie our earthly members, turn us from darke light, to illuminate our mind, to give repentan to work Faith, to make us alive toGod, tonf ble us to ferve him in righteousneß and belie to recover Gods intereft in us, and to bring back to him again: And let them confider hor their hearts have been affected with the things.

Fourthly, Whether they have, and they have in truth and fincerity appe felves to Chrift, to receive from him theit gut 21 and glorious benefits namely, to b pardon procured by his Merits and interceffit have a fupply of all Grace from him, and the tures fanctified? Whether they have foug him as to a Phyfitian, to heal their foules, rid them of their distempers? Whether have accepted him as their Prophet to guide the as their Lord and King to govern them, as their Priest to make atonement for the Whether they do not believe in him and tra in him groundlesfely and prefumptuously (25 ca people do) only to be delivered and freed Hell and wrath to come, without yielding up th hearts in fincere obedience to him, defiring feignedly to be guided and governed by his Spirit, and to be fanctified by his Grace.

Fifthly, Whether they have received pour and frength from Chrift by the effectuall ope

2

ion of his holy Spirit to mortifie the old man, the old Adamical nature) to crucifie the fleft, with its affections and lufts, to fight with, and to abdue pride, earthly-mindedness, fenfuality, felfove, malice, envy, and other vile affections To that they are not under the dominion of fin, out of grace? Whether they have put on the new nan, and have a new nature wrought in them, which confifts in knowledge, righteoufneffe, and Frueholineß? Whoever is in Christ is a new areaure, old things are past away, -2 Cor. 5.17, And whoever has not the Spirit of Chrift is none of his, Rom.8.9. They that are after the flesh do mind the hings of the flesh, but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit, V.5. To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, V.6. Let them confider therefore whether ever they found a powerful work of Grace upon their hearts? whether the Spirit of Chriftidwell in them? whether his Law be written in their hearts ? whether his Glory be their end? whether indeed they are alive unto God? what ftrength they have for active and paffive duties ? whether the Word be their delight 3 whether they pray fermently? delight in communion with God, in his waies and Warfhip? whether they obey him fincerely, and walk hambly before him? whether they bear afflictions patiently, fuffer reproaches joyfully?

Sixthly. Whether they have for any confide

rable