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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91366	The way step by step to sound and saving conversion, with a clear discovery of the two states, viz: nature, & grace: and how to know in which state one is, and the way to come out of the one into the other. Or, The ready and right path-way for the first Adams posterity to get out of their fallen estate accompanied with sin and misery, into the relation and family of the last Adam, which estate is attended with grace and glory, &c. With many weighty questions answered, and cases of conscience resolved, for the clearing and confirming the truths asserted. / By Robert Purnell.	Purnell, Robert, d. 1666.	1659 (1659)	Wing P4241; Thomason E1800_1; ESTC R209703	66,581	144

THE WAY STEP by STEP To sound and saving CONVERSION With a clear discovery of the two states VIZ Nature Grace AND How to know in which state one is and the way to come out of the one into the other OR The ready and right path-way for the first Adams posterity to get out of their fallen estate accompanied with sin and misery into the relation and Family of the last Adam which estate is attended with Grace and Glory c. With many weighty questions answered and cases of Conscience resolved for the clearing and confirming the truths asserted By ROBERT PURNELL John 3. 3. Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Matt. 18. 3. Except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven Luke 13. 5. Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish LONDON Printed by T. Childe and L. Parry for Edw. Thomas at the Adam and Eve in Little Britain 1659. An Epistle to the Impartial Reader THough it be not expedient to be alwaies laying the Foundation yet it is of absolute necessity that the Foundation be at first firmly laid that so the building notwithanding the Floods Winde and Storms may stand c. There are many waies to Damnation and there is but one way to Salvation that is streight and the Gate narrow so that although the Runners are many yet the Obtainers are but few for except a man be born again converted regenerated renewed and quickned he cannot be saved for we are by Nature Children of Wrath and such a one as this even just such a one and no other is a man yea every man by Nature such a one was I and you and each of all the Sons of Adam that have been or shall be and that universally without any exception or reservation we are all gone out of the ways we are all become unprofitable there is none that doth good no not one yet there is a way if we could light on it how to possess what we want and to live long in a little time and to have one foot as it were in Heaven whilst the other is upon the earth to point out that way was my endeavour in this Treatise Reader this small peece is the birth of many Prayers and a Description of many choyce Experiences and the sum and substance of many solid and sweet converses and the judgement of many precious Christians wherefore I would entreat the Reader to weigh things in the Ballance of Righteousness and then I am almost confident that there will be few or none that have the work of Grace upon their hearts unlesse they be under some violent fit of Temptation or re-insnared and intangled in a state of Backsliding but in the main will cordially own the ensuing Treatise wherefore let the Reader rather amend what I have done amisse than to carp catch and bark at what he may suppose to be unsound let him rather put pen to paper and correct the faults and supply the defects if he find any that so this Book may be of great worth though but of small price I am sure this subject is the most seasonablest and the most needfullest that can be offered or presented Conversion being a most blessed work and the day of Conversion the most blessed day that dawns on this side Heaven it self It is true nothing is more common than for men to write of this subject on the by and by parts and pieces but purposely on this subject and alone I know none nor as yet could ever hear of any besides Mr. Whatleis New Birth Mr. Baxters Treatise of Conversion so that a man may almost say there is nothing more rare than to find Books that are wrote purposely alone on this subject those few that are are either so voluminous on the one hand or scolastick on the other that the Reader for want of Learning and a better Memory gains not altogether that benefit thereby as otherwise he might To draw towards a close Let me acquaint the Reader that the best and chiefest Authors that I have consulted withall in the asserting and compiling the ensuing Discourse are the Prophets and Apostles mentioned in the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament next unto them not as infallible but as fallible men knowing but in part I have perused the writings of Mr. John Wollebius Mr. Sam Boulton Mr. Christopher Love Mr. William Jenkin Mr. Jeremiah Burroughs Mr. John Norton Mr. Francis Roberts Mr. Thomas Brooks and many others but chiefly and principally I have perused and made use of Mr. Whatleis New Birth and Mr. Baxters Treatise of Conversion finding my Spirit witnessing the same before I ever saw their Books for a great part I have sometimes named them and sometimes omitted it and so do here recite it in general I have not step by step followed the method of neither but here and there where I found things fully proved by Scripture and my own Conscience bearing me Witnesse thereto those and such like things I have taken as helps in the compiling the ensuing piece and no otherwise c. Reader I doubt not through the Grace of God and his blessing upon thee in the reading this Book but Faith may be wrought in thee if thou hast it not or strengthened if thou hast it and if so I have my end and thou wilt have the benefit Let a mans sin be never so great if he believe he shall be pardoned if his Sin be never so small if he believe not he shall be damned the very sin against the Holy-Ghost est is not unpardonable for want of Grace in our Saviour but for want of Faith and Repentance in the sinner the cause of condemnation according to the Law is all sin but the cause of condemnation under the Gospel is Vnbelief and as Vnbelief contains in it all manner of Disobedience so Believing containeth all Obedience therefore this one Act of Faith is more acceptable unto God than all our Sins are unacceptable Here thou art presented with the means for the obtaining this grace of Faith and all other graces of the Spirit and for the growing in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to whose protection I leave thee and subscribe my self thy Servant for his sake ROBERT PURNELL A Table of the principal Heads in General and the conexion of these things together and dependency of the one upon the other OF the Creation of Man page 1 Of the pleasurable and delightfull condition he was placed in 1 2 The manner of his fall and the subtilty of Sathan therein 4 The sad and miserable estate he fell into 5 Man can never be saved unlesse born again 8 There be four Gates shut against him 8 9 There be 18 sorts of persons that shall not enter into Heaven 11 12 There be four reasons why the Lord will not save them 14 Man is

but he and all his posterity retain some footsteps and impressions though not of grace yet of gifts he did not utterly lose the knowledge of God nor did his posterity for that is learned by the things that are made Rom. 1. 20. Nor did he utterly lose the fear of God for Adam confessed Gen 3. that when he heard the voice of God he was afraid there remains some scraps of wisdom by which he acts prudently as to worldly affairs Luke 16. 8. Again he walks toward his fellow-creatures in the performance of certain acts of duty and charity as they stand related to him and his light or conscience excusing or accusing according to his acting Q. How came the sin of Adam being but one man to be made the sin of so many men yea of all seeing they eat not the apple An The sin of Adam in eating the forbidden fruit is made ours by participation and imputation 1. By participation Adam being a publick person all his posterity was conteined in his loins and so sinned in his sinning Rom. 5 12. 2. By imputation the Lord doth impute the legal guilt therof unto his whole posterity descending from him by way of ordinary generation Rom. 5. 18 19. compared with-1 Cor. 15. 22. Q. How could Christ being but one make satisfaction for the sins of so many An How could Adam being but one inf●ct so many with original sin the second Adam was as publike a person as the first and as well able to sanctifie as the first to putrifie and farther though Christ was but one yet he was such a one as was greater and better than all and so able and sufficient to satisfie for all and to redeem all for the blood of such an one as Christ the son of God was of such an infinite value and price that it did ●urmount and surpass in dignity and worth all the souls of the world and his sufferings and merits were a sufficient satisfaction if intended and to that end for to save so many worlds of men as there is men in the world for all things besides God came from nothing and are in themselves nothing It is true God calleth himself I am Exod. 3. 14. We are but created results of God bits of dependancies upon him we are of yesterday little branches budding from our mother nothing by the alone will and pleasure of God Isa 40. 15. 17. Behold all nations are before him as a drop of a bucket as the small dust of the ballance as a very little thing as nothing as less than nothing even as vanity c. Q. What are we to understand by Election and Reprobation which are mentioned in the Scriptures and so many people contending about An. Gods eternal purpose according to the counsel of his will for his own glory he hath fore-ordeined whatsoever comes to pass voluntarily to save some through Christ but others being left to themselves in their own fin and misery to perish eternally and albeit God worketh most freely and according to his good pleasure yet neither have the Elect any just cause to boast nor the Reprobate to complain for to the one undeserved grace was bestowed and on the other deserved punishment is inflicted Again consider that as predestination is a part of Gods providence so is Reprobation for as God by his providence hath ordeined some to life eternal so by that same providence he was pleased to suffer some to fall away from that happiness they are altogether foolish who acknowledge election and deny reprobation because the Scripture ●eacheth that there is a reprobation as well as election Isa 41. 9. I have chosen thee and not cast thee away Mal. 1. 3. Jacob have I loved and I have hated Esau Rom. 9. 18. He will have mercie on whom he will and whom he will be hardneth Rom. 11. 7. The election hath obtained it and the rest have been hardned 1 Thes 5. 9. God hath not appointed us to wrath but to salvation 2 Tim. 2. 20. Vessels to honour and to dishonour Jude vers 4. For there are certain men crept in which were before of old ordained to condemnation So that we may learn from these Scriptures that if Christ sheweth a people mercy it is fr●e and meer mercy if he doth not shew them mercy he doth them no wrong Rom. 9. 15 16. Q. Then Election seemeth to be the cause of salvation and Reprobation the cause of damnation An. Election and Reprobation are not in any sense the causes of salvation and damnation but Christ is the proper and meritorious cause of salvation and Sin the proper and meritorious cause of damnation election and reprobation they are but precedent acts or decrees and the causes of salvation and damnation they come in between the decrees and the execution thereof If it be demanded Why the Potter out of the same lump makes vessels of such different condition It is answered because there be different uses of those vessels in the house If again it be demanded Why out of one piece of the same lump a vessel of honour is made and a vessel to dishonour It is answered because itso pleased the Potter O the unlimited Soveraignty of the being of beings how unsearchable are his judgements and his wayes past finding out Rom. 11. 33. Q. Whether Christ hath dyed for all men and tasted death for every man 2 Cor. 5. 15. 1 Tim. 2. 6. as these Scriptures seem to affirm An The word all hath many restrictions in Scripture and so hath the word every man as to instance the word all is sometimes restrained in Scripture to the Lords peculiar people John 12. 32. Christ saith he will drsw all men to him that is all men that the father gave him Jo. 6. 45. Again we read They shall be all taught of God not all the world sure but all Gods people Again Acts 2. 7. I will powr out my Spirit upon all flesh this place cannot be meant of all the wicked Again we read 1 Thess 2. 15. They please not God and are contrary to all men that is all good men Again we read Ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake that is of all wicked men So we see the word all is taken variously and when as it is said he tasted death for every man it is to be taken for some of all kinreds tongues and people As to instance Cant. 3. 8. Every man had his sw●rd on his thigh So Micah 4. 4. Every man shall sit under his vine So ● Cor. 4. 5. Every man shall have praise of God Now let us consider every mon in the world had not a sword to wear nor a vine to sit under neither shall every man have praise of God much more might be said to this but this point is fully deba●ed and answered by many precious Christians whose books are extant Q. How can they have hope to believe whom God hath decreed shall not believe An. We are

we behold the downfall of all natural preparations and meritorious dispositions Quere 2. How Vocation conversion repentance regeneration agree or differ For answer to this let me give the Reader Master Baxsters judgement to which I fully assent and consent All these particular expressions saith he are used in Scripture to expresse one and the same work upon the soul onely they have some small difference Viz. The word Vocation is taken for Gods act of Calling and is two-fold First Common when men are brought to an outward profession Secondly Specially when people are savingly converted to Christ this last calling is the same with conversion only this difference Calling hath usually in Scripture a principal respect to the first act on the soul even the act of faith it self or at least the habit of faith is effected in the heart and therewith the seed of all graces in the soul this is that Vocation or special effectual Calling next Consider that Repentance is the same thing as special effectual Calling only this difference the word Vocation doth principally expresse the state to which we are called but the word Repentance doth principally respect our our turning to God from whom we fell and the word Vocation doth as much or more respect our coming to Christ the true and only way to the Father the word Regeneration is more comprehensive than Conversion Repentance and Vocation because there is so great a change that a man is as it were another man 2 Cor. 5. 11. He that is in Christ is a new creature And yet the word Regeneration fignifieth the same thing as Conversion Repentance and Vocation only observing a small difference as before mentioned Quere 3. The way step by step which the Lord in his ordinary dispensation in these Gospel-dayes doth lead a soul as it were by the band out of a state of nature into a state of grace 1. The first step to Conversion is Illumination 2. The second step to accomplish or at least to carry on this work is effectual Vocation which hath many branches 3. The third step to get out of a state of nature into a state of grace out of a state of death into a state of life is to trust or believe in the Lord which hath many branches 4. The fourth step for the compleating and carrying on this work there is usually dropped into the soul and heart the spirit of grace and supplication by which the party goes unto God with confessions and petitions 5. The fifth step to effect and compleat this great work the Lord doth cause the soul secretly to give it selfe up and surrender all the interest that it had in it self to God that made it and Christ that bought it 1. The first step to Conversion is illumination as doth fully appear by these Scriptures Acts. 26. 18. I send thee saith Christ to Paul to open their eyes and to turn them from darknes to light and from the power of Sathan unto God So Psal 119. 130. The entrance of thy word giveth light it giveth understanding unto the simple lob 33. 30. to bring back his soul from the pit to be enlightned with the light of the living Men are not born with this saving light in their hearts as they are born with tongues in their mouthes for the best knowing men under heaven untill born again and converted are in darkness Ephes 5. 8. For ye were sometimes darkness but now are ye light in the Lord being born again 1 Cor. 2. 14. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 2 Cor. 4. 6. For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ This illumination is acompanied with 1 A renewing of the mind Rom. 12. 2. Eph. 4. 23. 2 A conviction of sin and guilt he doth acknowledge himself a lawfull captive 3 There are the seeds or roots of all saving grace infused into the soul at once if the soul be enlightned with a special saving light but the soul doth not presently sensibly exercise thē all the first part of saving grace is illumination the opening of the eyes causeth the opening of the heart 2. The second step to accomplish or at least to carry on this work of conversion is Vocation this effectual vocation is the first or second act of Election saith Master Norton Calling is the first act of Divine mercy in recovering miserable man Doctor Twiss saith effectuall calling is the first mercy c. But let the Reader consider that if these four words Vocation Conversion Repentance Regeneration agree in one and are used in Scripture to expresse the same work upon the soul having but a small difference as hath been proved before then now in speaking to this word Vocation let the Reader take notice that though Conversion Repentance Regeneration be not exprest yet they all are included and contained and if so then Vocation seems to be a second work upon the soul rather than the first Jer. 31. 19. Surely after that I was turned I repented and after that I was instructed I was ashamed yea even confounded because I did bear the reproach of my youth the way that the Lord doth take for the recovering of a backslider and the conversion of a sinner doth in many thing if not in all go hand in hand together he calls upon the one and so he doth upon the other he enlightens the one to see from whence he is fallen and so he doth the other he gives repentance to the one and so he doth to the other c. There are principally these three things to be considered in this Vocation 1. The principal cause of Vocation is Gods free mercy 2 Tim. 1. 9. Titus 3. 3 4 5. 2. The instrumental cause is the preaching of the Gospel 2 Thes 2. 14. 3. The end of Vocation is Gods glory and the salvation of his elected ones Ephes 2. 1. And you hath he quickened when you were dead in sinnes and trespasses Col. 2. 13. And you that were dead in your sinnes hath he quickned Eph. 1. 12. that we should be to the praise of his glory There be certain steps at first in a souls coming to Christ or preparatory accesses like that we read Psalm 6. 2 4. Have mercy upon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord heal me for my bones are vexed Return O Lord deliver my soul O save me for thy mercies sake Matt. 9. 20. Bebold a woman diseased though she came not presently to look God fully in the face though she dare not come to touch Christ and lay hold on him yet she was sensible of her own misery and want of mercy she knew there was vertue to come from him and she came as near that as she durst she had a desire to speak but she went

himself out c. Of the preparations or qualifications that we are to find in our selves before we lay hold on Christ and the promise Conversion and Regeneration Vocation and Repentance are but four words to hold forth as it were one and the self same thing Of the way step by step how the Lord in his ordinary dispensation in these Gospel-dayes doth lead a soul as it were by the hand out of a state of nature into a state of grace First by enlightning the soul Secondly by calling him effectually Thirdly by enabling him to believe Fourthly by giving him the spirit of prayer by which he prayes for more light to see his sins and then for pardoning mercy and for purging mercy Fifthly the Lord doth cause the soul secretly to give it self up to God and so he comes to surrender all its own supposed interest that he had in himself unto God that made it and unto Christ that hath dearly purchased it then there follweth the mean● to be used to breed and beget grace and to convert the soul First to keep close to grace-begetting Ordinances viz. hearing the Word preached reading the Scriptures and frequent and earnest prayer Secondly to dwell much upon grace-begetting promises Thirdly to frequent the company of grace-begetting and soul-converting companions Fourthly to call to mind and meditate upon grace-begetting considerations Fisthly to gather and to treasure up grace-begetting and soul-converting experiences and so to be diligent in the use of many other means for the confirming sealing and assuring the soul of salvation these and many other subordinate branches thou hast here presented in a little room and a few words c. Now to proceed a little farther in this great work and so to draw towards a close let the Reader consider these things following viz. 1. If we remain in an unconverted estate let us blame our selves only for the want of conversion is not in God for he makes use of all means and wayes to convert us 2. We shall present the Reader with some of the principal hinderances of Conversion 3. Consider the sad and miserable condition of the unconverted 4. The trials of conversion by which a man may know whether he be converted yea or no 5. The priviledges and benefits of all that are converted 6. Certain Objections answered which some out of weakness and others out of prejudice may be apt to make against the foregoing discourse and so I shall close up this Book The want of Conversion i● not in God but in our selves he makes use of all means and waies to convert us 1. Our conversion and salvation is not a thing impossible for a new and living way is consecrated for us by Christ through the vail his flesh and by his blood we may have boldness to enter into the Holiest he hath borne our burthen he hath removed the impossibilities and nailed to his Cross the hand-writing that was against us Coll. 2. 14 15. So that if any of us perish it is for want of grace in us not for want of satisfaction by the Redeemer salvation is brought even to our doors and thrust in as it were into our hands we have Christ himself offered us and pardon life and salvation with him we have God himself waiting to be gracious and beseeching us to be reconciled to him 2 Cor. 5. 19 20. We have the Lords Embassadors intreating us in his Name and stead the Lord hath provided excellent and plentiful means with promise upon promise of his presence with and blessing upon us in the use of them and if the Spirit make not these means effectual it will not be long of him but of our selves God himself presents and offereth us mercy Prov. 1. 23. and continues his Ordinance● the Angels waits for the joy that is due to them upon our conversion Ministers are preaching and praying for our conversion godly friends and neighbours are praying and longing to see this work wrought in us See Mr. Bax●ers Call to the unconverted in the Preface We study plainness of speach to make them understand we come with serious piercing words to make them feel but they will neither understand nor feel if the greatest matters would work with them we should awake them if the sweetest things would work we should intice them if the most dreadful things would work we should affright them if truth and certainty would take with them we should soon convince them if the God that made them and the Christ that bought them might be heard the case would soon be altered with them if Scripture might be heard we should soon prevail if the best and strongest reason might be heard we should speedily convince them if experience might be heard even their own experience the matter would soon be mended yea if the conscience within them might be heard the case would soon be better with them than it is but if the dreadful God of Heaven be slighted who then shall be regarded If the blood of a Redeemer be made slight of what then shall be valued If the joyes of Heaven is not worth the desiring and the torments of Hell the avoiding what shall we do for such souls as these c Now if after all these and the like means Man will not turn it is not long of God that they are not converted but of themselves so that Mans destruction is of himself James 1. 15. So earnest is God for the conversion of sinners that he doubleth his commands and exhortations Turn ye turn ye why will ye dy Ezek. 33. 11. Again it is the promise of God that the wicked shall live if they will but turn nay the Lord hath confirmed it to us by an oath That he hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked See the forementioned place Ezek. 33. 11. Nay farther the Lord condescendeth to reason the cause with all unconverted sinners as to ask them why they will dy in their sinnes See the forementioned place Ezek. 33. 11. Compared with 2 Pet. 3. 9. The Lord is long-suffering not willing that any should perish c. Some of the principal hinderances of Conversion 1. The first Hindrance is ignorance both of their own misery and Gods mercy the kingdome of Satan is a kingdome of darkness and himself the ruler of darkness and the mist and blackness of darkness is reserved to him and his servants for ever Jude 6 13. compared with John 3. 19. this is condemnation that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather than light So that if the Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not lest the glorious Gospel of Christ should shine unto them but those that are converted can truly say we were once darkness but now we are light in the Lord Ephes 5. 8. 2. Hindrance of conversion is men think it to be either an easie work or a

inward man So again in another Psal 40. 8. I delight to do thy will thy Law is in my hear● there was a principal within him agreeable to the precept without him this is a clear demonstration of a new creature though he may drive heavily sometimes under vexing and lasting temptations 3. He that is effectually converted he i● brought unto an unfeined hatred of the whole body of sin especially his beloved sins that did most powerfully captivate him before Col. 3. 7 8. But now you put off all these anger wrath malice blasphemy filthy communication see 1 Corinth 6. 11. compared with Titus 3. 3 4 5. c. Nay further he hath an unfeined hatred of the whole body of sin as it is the greatest evil in the world sin is worse than hell there may be good in punishment but there can be no good in sin it makes God hide his face from us and shut out our prayers Isa 59. 2. it is the cause of all wars James 4. 1. it is the cause of all sickness Deut. 28. In a word sin is the cause of all misery both temporal spiritual and eternal therefore Daniel was content to be thrown into the den of Lyons rather than to sin the three Children in the fire Paul and Silas into the prison and many Christians have chosen to imbrace prisons stakes fire and the hottest persecutions rather than sin a converted person comes to see the weakness and wickedness of his own heart he knows he cannot trust any member alone without a guard 4. He that is indeed converted may know it by this viz. his greatest and hottest conflicts are against inward pollution his close spiritual and secret sins that are known only to God and himself he doth accuse himself for that which no man can accuse him he blames himself for that which no man can blame him he judgeth and arraigneth himself for that which no man can judge him for he makes a through and sound search he knows Hypocrisie is spun of a fine thred and is not discerned without diligent search Again he knows that one stab at the heart though it be with a pen-knife will kill a man one little leak in a Ship will sink it and one secret sin unrepented of will damn a Soul the least sin contains in it the nature of all sin no sooner did one sin enter into Adams heart but he had all sin in him 5. He often mourns for the sins of others and for the want of more grace in himself we read Jer. 13. 17. that the Prophet did weep in secret places for the sins of others so in another place mine eyes run down with tears because men keep not thy laws c. and as for the sins of others so for the want of more grace in themselves viz. Isaiah 6. 5. I am a man of unclean lips said Isaiah I abhor my self in dust and ashes said Job Job 42 6 Surely I am more brutish than any man and have not the knowledge of a man said Augur Pro. 30. 2. I am less than the least of all Saints said Paul Eph. 3. 8. nay I have so little grace that I am the greatest of Sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief 6. He doth dearly love to be ever now and then speaking of those great and saving truths which his heart took in the work of conversion he feeleth most savour of life in those necessary points which were instruments of this blessed change that there is made upon him and upon these he feed●th and delighteth even on the inward life of spiritual things and so he feedeth his hungry Soul in hearing and reading praying and conversing with Christians he endeavours to learn something from ●very thing 7. He doth begin to keep a watch over his own heart eyes and tongue and feet c. 1. He keeps his heart with Solomons diligence Prov. 4. 24. 2. He keeps his eyes with Jobs Covenant Job 31. 1. 3. He keeps his tongue with Davids bridle Psalm 39. 7. 4. He keeps his foot with Solomons guard Eccles 5. 1. In a word we should not trust any Member without its Keeper for there doth and will remain even in the converted themselves the remnants of corruption a body of death a rebelling flesh and thi● will be still tempting and draw them from God so that the whole way to Heaven is a continual warfare there be enemies that will dispute every foot of the way there is no going a step forward but as the ship doth in the Sea by cutting its way through the waves there is Self our greatest enemy and there is Sathan and the world and almost all that we meet with in it will prove hinderances in the way to Heaven therefore keep up your watch with your loynes girt and your lamps burning 8. He that is truly converted makes conscience of keeping every known duty or command in respect of the general bent and frame of his heart he doth subject himself to Christ freely universally and constantly and unweariedly at least in desire if it be not so he could wish it were so he endeavours prays to have it so he considereth that Christ did not discharge us from the debt of sin to free us from the debt of service but therefore did he pay the one that we might be able to return the other Rom. 8. 12. Therefore we are Debters not to the slesh 1 John 2. 5. Who so keepeth his word in him is the love of God perfected hereby know we that we are in him there is no known sin but he labours to avoid and no known grace but he longs to have and no known duty but he labours to perform 9. He is willing to put himself upon the tryal whether he be converted or no he is willing to have any Christian to search him and sometimes he entreats the Lord to search him he loves those company best that deals most plainly with him he carefully and continually searcheth himself and goes down with light into his heart he is jealous of his own heart he doubts of none more than himself suspects most his own graces and the witnesse of his own spirit least Sathan shine like an Angel of light and say it is the testimony of Gods spirit he is content to have his spiritual estate tryed by any not only by a searching Ministry in publick but by any private Friends he opens his heart freely for others to ask and gives answers of his hope with weaknesse and fear his ears are open to the whole word he believes the threatnings and trembles he fears also the promises lest he comes short he hath found out the hell in his heart and feels the flames of it in secret he hath found an emptiness in himself and an enmity to all good he is poor in spirit which appears by his continual complaints and importunat prayers he desireth not to be