It workes an effectuall loue of God and Gods children sheweth it selfe by the fruites of loue 6. It will maintaine a Christian in some measure of sufficiencie and contentment in all estates the iust liues by faith not by friends mony earthly hopes or helpes c. for it will make a man to lay houlde vpon Gods promise and workes an inward trust in Gods neuer failing prouidence so as hee will leaue the successe of all his labours or meanes to God 7. It excludes boasting of our owne labours praises gifts or workes and in the same measure workes humilitie that it maketh any other grace 8. It ouercommeth the world so as profits credit pleasures carnal friends or hopes doe not sway and rule the beleeuer but hee willinglie and patientlie rests in the treasures and pleasures of a better world yeelding himselfe ouer to bee guided by Christ and his truth to the death 9. It purifieth the heart from ignorance wicked imaginations carnall desires sinfull perturbations and all sorts of secret and inward sinnes And this it doth by causing a man dailie to seeke pardon for them in Christ and by casting them out by confession and sorrow in the same measure desiring inward puritie that it reioyeeth in Gods loue 10. There is a spring of grace in the heart of euery beleeuer whence followes daily the exercise of sundrie sauing graces which can neuer bee vtterly dried vp in the heart of a Christian and that is it our sauiour Christ meaneth when hee saith out of his bellie shall flow riuers of liuing water 6. The spirit of Adoption THe spirit of adoption in the hearts of Gods Children may bee discerned First by the fire of zeale and holie affections with which it fils the harts of Gods children especially in the vse of Gods ordinances to the information reformation of their liues Secondly by the much assurance which especially at somâ—times worketh in the heart Thirdly by a daily holy strife to preserue grace giuen vs and to preuent falling away Fourthly by secret suggestion or direction by which Gods seruants are reclaimed when they goe out of the way either on the right hand or on the left Fifthly by the assise it keepes in the heart of a christian as a spirit of iudgement by which he is made to watch arrest accuse condemn and restraine himselfe from euerie euill way according to the rules of the word before Gods holy presence Sixthly by libertie from the power of raigning and presumptuous sinnes where the spirit of God is there is libertie Seuenthly by the groath and florishing of true grace Eighthly by vnspeakable ioies felt in the presence of God in the due vse of his ordinance by which a christian is enflamed to the loue of God and all holy duties and abased to the dust in the sence of his owne vilenesse called therefore the ioies of the holy ghost For as for carnall ioyes or illusions either they are not felt in the vse of Gods ordinances or els they breede pride and conceited security Ninthly by requests and supplications affectionable and with confidence powered out vnto God as a father 7. Vprightnesse of heart IF thou wouldest make triall of the truth and vprighnesse of thy heart thou must seriously examine thy selfe First whether thy spirit be without guile more desirous to be good then to bee thought to be so and seeking more the power of godlinesse then the shew of it Secondly whether thou loue all good things aswell as one and hate all things as well as one Thirdly whether that thou canst loue and forgiue thy enemies that hate and disgrace and wrong thee aswell as thy friends that either wrong thee not or but by infirmity Fourthly whether thou canst bee content to receiue euil at Gods hands as well as good without murmuring or letting goe thy integrity being carefull to approue thy selfe to God without respect of reward yea though trouble did befall thee Fiftly whether thou dislike sinne in all euen in those that are most neere and deere vnto thee Sixtly whether thou finde in thy heart a resolution to turne from nothing that God commaundeth thee all the daies of thy life Seauenthly whether thou be innocent from the great transgression Eightly whether thou finde an inward combate and striffe against secret sinnes aswell as open sinnes bewailing the transgressions against the inward worship of God aswell as against the ontward Ninthly whether thy heart bee humble patient teachable and tractable in some holy measure increasing herein by the vse of Gods ordâ—niance an vpright heart is a willing heart 10 Whether thy desire bee to walke as in Gods presence 11 Whether thou finde a desire to be rid of sinne and to humble thy selfe for it in prosperitie aswell as aduersitie and in the beginning of afflictions aswell as in the extremities of them 12 Whether in wrongs and disgraces when thou art innocent thou canst in the sence of thine owne vnworthinesse of Gods loue make God thy defence resting in his fauour and acceptance 13 Whether thou dost endeauour to glorifie God aswell by giuing thankes for blessings and graces as for praying for supplie of wants or pardon of â—innes 14 Whether thy heart be stedfast and setled without lying flattering or dissembling so seeking and praying for pardon and deliuerance in aduersitâ—e that thou wouldest practise it after release this was a signe the Israelites were not vpright in that they would crie to God in their distresse but care not for their vowes and promises so soone as they were deliuered 15 Whether the word of God doe thee good aboue all things 16 Whether thy praise be of God and not of men 17 Whether thou dost serue God with thy whole heart not hauing a heart and a heart either waiuering or deuided for vnlesse the whole resolution of thy soule with the vtmost of thy desires bee to walke in Gods waies thy heart is not vpright 18 Whether there be in thee a faithfull heart to deale faithfullie in the charge and calling in which thou art and to discharge it in the conscionable feare of God 19 Whether there be any sinne thou couldest not willinglie iudg thy selfe for it without hiding it so soone as thou knowest it to be a sinne This is the ioy of a Christian in the sense of his owne wants and weakenesses that though he haue manie sinnes yet there is no sinne but hee willing lie acknowledgeth it vnto God 20 Whether thou be good at home as well as abroade 21 Whether thou canst be contented to make the Law of God thy onelie direction in all things 22 Whether thou canst bee as carefull to preseuere in grace as once to be good 23 Whether thou keepe thy selfe from thine owne iniquitie 1. Whether thou dost
conscionablie endeuor to forsake thy particular formerly beloued and speciall sinnes 24 Whether thou be free from the raigne of frowardnesse in thy way or peruersenesse of thy lips 8. Holie desires OVr desires may bee tried fiue waies First by obiects of them Secondly by the quallities of them Thirdlie by the concomitants or companions of them Fourthly by effects or consequents of them Fifthly by the causes or accidents of them For the first those desires are meant in the promises that are carried after things aboue nature as the fauour of God the pardon of sinnes the righteousnesse of Christ the presence of God and the saints in the new Ierusalem the comming of Christ to iudgement victorie ouer the deerest sinnes the remouing of spirituall iudgements the damnation of their owne soules that Israel might be saued and such like There are three principall quallities in the holie desires of Gods elect for First they are fierieâ— that is such as cause the heart of man to burnewithn him with some measure of zeale for Gods glorie indignation at sinne and feruent affection in Gods seruice whereas the desires of the wicked at least are either dull and cold or transported by the wrongs ends to the fauouring of sinne Secondlie they are constant both because they are renued dailie as the metaphors of hunger and thirst doe import as also because they are alike carried to the eternall fruition of the things desired as to the present enioying of them Gods seruants desire the fauour of God the abolishing of sinne the possession of grace not to serue a turne for the present but to be enioyed as their portion for euer for looke how the man vnregenerate desires to commit sinne so doth the regenerate desire to forsake but the former in some sins doth commit them with a desire euer to sinne and a secret discontentmeÌ„t to thinke that at anie time he should not be able to sinne Euen such a contrarie desire is there in Gods elect truely called they so desire not to sinne as it is their griefe to thinke that at any time they should againe sinne yea affliction doth not quench them but manie times inflame them Thirdlie they are not idle which may appeare three waies First because they are carried after themeanes of good aswell as good things themselues and that in a great measure too Secondly because they are attended with a resolution to doe any thing that their desires may bee accomplished they aske what should they doe to be saued as taking it for graunted that they must bee industrious in Gods worke There is no labour but they would endeuour to doe it so the Lord would bee mercifull vnto them to graunt them their desire yea when they haue done all they still are humbled because they can doe no more nor no better Thirdlie they cannot rest till in some happie measure they ouercome the most maisterly corruption either of nature or life Thirdlie holy desires are accompanied First with a supernaturall valuation of the worth of spirituall things accouÌ„ting them pearle of the best price not to deere bought if they buie them with the sale of al they haue and contrariwise accounting themselues exceeding poore and distressed if they want them or the meanes of them esteeming Gods louing kindnossâ— better then life Secondly with avoluntary forsaking of the vnnecessarie pleasures and profit of the world thankfully receiuing the promises of a better life and easily confessing that they are strangers and pilgrimes on the earth Thirdly with a constant and secret meditation of heauenly things desired what one desires feruently hee thinkes on almost continuallie Fourthly Holy desires shewe themselues by diuers effects or consequents of them especially if they be satisfied First they chase out euill desires and raise vp a dailie combat against the most secret corruptions of nature Secondlie the excite a frequencie and feruencie in praier to God in secret Thirdlie they worke a resolution to walke in the way that is called holie yea so gracious is the Lord that the most simple if their desires bee most true attaine to some happie measure of reformation Fourthlie if the Lord graunt their desires there followes First heauenlie kinde of satisfaction and contentation with singular delight in the soule Secondlie the vowes and wishes of infinite and eternall thankfulnesse Thirdlie a groweth and springing vp as among the grasse or as willowes by the water courses Lastlie they arise from a broken humbled spirit and the more they are inflamed the more humbled they continue to be 9. The spirit of praier HE that calleth on the name of the Lord aright discouereth the spirit of grace praies in his heart by these things 1. He askes according to Gods will 2. Hee praies with perswasion that God will heare he beleeueth he shal haue it he praies in faith and assurance of heart before God 3. He praies in the name of Christ in the sence of his owne vilenesse by reason of his wants and sinnes 4. He will praie at al times 5. He is effectuallie ferueâ—t he hath the affections of praier 6. Praier makes him exceeding wearie of the world and willing to forgoe societie with the workes of iniquitie 7. When he knowes not how to pray as he ought the spirit prepares his heart excites holie desires supplies with words and power of affection or else worketh inward vnexpressable groanes 8. He findes a holie rest and quieâ—nesse in his conscience heart with spirituall boldnes and confidence of trust in God if the Lord heare graciouslie 9. He findes answers from God by the witnesse of the spirit of adoption in which the Lord deales somtimes wonderfully with his people 10. He loues God exceedinglie for hearing his praier and desires to keepe himselfe in the loue of God 11. His praiers proceede from a heart that loues no sinne but willingly departeth from iâ—iquitie and desireth to keepe his commaundements and to doe that which is pleasing to Gods sight 12. He loues praier in others 13. He is oftentimes dissolued into much sorrow for his sinnes while he stands before the face of God 14 He feeleth the confideÌ„ce of assurance that God is his father 15. If the Lord be silent and answer not but hides his face his spirit faileth and hee is as one that goeth down to the pit it troubleth him as a sore crosse contrariwise 16. Praier is his chiefe refugâ— and he wil pray though praier bee in neuer so much disgrace and power out his complaint shew all his trouble 17. Hee striues against deadnesse of spirit and distractions as a heauie burthen 10. The obedience of Christ. OVr obedience wil be approued and accepted in Christ if it be
gracious it doth not of necessitie follow that Iohn was the most gracious of al the Apostles though hee were most beloued Againe as our loue must bee extendent to all saints so also must it be to all times we must loue them aswell when they are in aduersity disgrace temptation sicknesse or any misery as when they abound in prosperitie or good estimation c. For the third this loue is without dissimulation it is indeede and trueth not in word or appearance onely And besides it is a most affectionate and brotherly loue Lastlie there are sixe effects of true christian loue for it shewes it selfe First by honor and this honoring of them that feare the Lord hath in it First an estimation of them as the onely excellent people in the world Secondly a free acknoweledgement of their iust praises in all places for their grace and obedience Thirdly a willing proposing of them as examples to imitate Fourthly a holy endeauour to couer their infirmities taking things in the best part and sence not receiuing disgracefull reports of them suffering long not vauâ—ting themselues in comparison of them not easily prouoked not enuying them hoping all things induring all things and yet not reioycing in their iniquity Fiftly Apology for them against the reproches and scornes of the world Sixthly by delight in their fellowship and society in the Gospell in which respect they can be equall to them of the lower sort Such as finde no need of nor delight in the company of Gods children or are willing to sort with none but their betters or equals may see great cause to bee humbled either for the want of this grace or for the weakenesse of it Thirdly by simpathy and fellow-feeling for in some measure a childe of God is like affectioned He can in some measure weepe with them that weepe and reioyce with them that reioyce especially they reioyce to heare or know their soules prosperity Fourthly by weldoing mercy this loue is bountifull pittifull tender hath bowels both of spirituall and outward mercy it gladly receaueth the saints it communicates to their necessitie willinglie and with a readie minde Fiftly by a desire to walke in offensiuely he that loueth his brother there is no occasion of stumbling or scandall in him Lastly the true loue of Gods children will make a man grow vp the faster into Iesus Christ in all grace and holinesse 5. Faith INasmuch as there are diuers kinds of faith and experience shewes in many that giue no signes of repentance that they will not bee beaten from a confident perswasion that Christ died for them euen for them in particular It stands vs in hand to try our perswasion by the true rules of scripture and if it will abide the triall of the touchstone we may lay it vp as hid treasure and a wonderfull grace of God and if otherwise we may repent of presumption as a deceaueable sinne Faith may be tried 1. By the Cause 2. By the Properties 3. By the Concomitants 4. By the effects For the first true faith commeth by the hearing of the word preached It is no naturall endowment nor gotten by naturall helpes But first is wrought by the holyghost in the preaching of the Gospell as is plaine by the Apostle How shal they beleeue in him of whom they haue not heard and how shall they heare without a Preacher Secondly there are 6. properties of faith First it accounts all things most base in Comparison of the knowledge of Christ and the loue of God in him Christ is more precious then all the world besides Secondly it will receaue the testimony of Gods faithfull Ministers out of the world against the world Thirdly it is such a perswasion as cannot abide hipocrisy but purgeth the heart of it as of a most hatefull sinne and is therefore called vnfained Fourthly it will endure triall cast it into the fire of tribulation and manifold afflictions and disgraces and temptations yet it will not perish nor be ashamed it is a plate for the breast and a helmet for the head 1. Thess. 5. 8â— Eph. 6. Whereas the best faith that is not the faith of Gods elect will proue but drosse if it be cast into the furnâ—ce of temptation further then it is supported by carnall ends and helpes Fiftly it will beleeue all things that it apprehendeth to be required threatned or promised in the word to belieue some things may be in other kindes of faith especially such things as stand with reason affecting common opinion c. Sixtly in affliction it laieth hold on Gods promise or prouidence so as it will rest with quietness trust and patience and not make hast to the vse of euill and vnwarranted meanes he that beleeueth maketh not hast Thirdly it may bee tried by the concomitants of it for First it is â—ealed by the holy spirit of promise for in euery beleeuer the promised spirit doth print in his heart the sauing graces of Christ from the sight of which as from so many markes compared with Gods promises in his word ariseth by the effectuall working of the spirit this assurance or perswasion of faith for though grace and faith bee giuen together and grow vp together yet the assurance of faith discouers not it selfe till it discerne those companions of it with which it is daily incouraged and confirmed and setled that faith that can be without sanctification of the spirit is not the faith of Gods elect Secondly it is ioyned with a good and pure conscience Hee that is truly perswaded of Gods loue in Christ maketh conscience of all his wayes to seeke or doe thee good God requires and auoyde the euils God forbids Thirdly it is ioyned with a spirit of discerning or wisdome in matters of saluation the minde being enlightened to obserue in some comfortable measure the meaning of the holy ghost in all things needefull to saluation in vse of the word through the power of Gods ordinances so as the verie simple may and doe attaine to a holy kinde of insight and sharpenesse of iudgement Fourthly The true beleeuer hath a witnesse in himselfe euen the witnesse of the spirit of adoption infallible certifying himselfe of Gods loue and his adoption Fifthly faith may be discerned by certaine effects of it for 1. It breedeth ioy vnspeakeable and glorious and that either through the sence of Gods sauour and your presence or in the hope of glorie to come 2. It puts on and applies a righteousnesse that is not by the worke of the same but in Christ onely 3. It will make a man speake in the confession profession and defence of the truth of God I haue beleeued therefore I spake 4. It workes the longing desires of Gods presence of glorie 5.
signes That a Christian in this life may be infallibly assured of Gods fauour to himself in particular and that hee ought to seeke this assurance as a matter of singular necessity these places of Scripture proue The Apostle Paul chargeth the Corinthians to Examine themselues whether they be in the faith and requireth this prouing of themselues with such earnestnesse that he saith know yee not your owne selues how that Christ Iesus is in you except ye be reprobates As if he would auouch it that a man can neuer haue found comfort of his election till he get this assured knowledge of Gods fauour in Christ. And the Apostle Peter exhorts Christians to vse all diligence to make their calling and election sure whatsoeuer carnall persons speake against it Iob vehemently desires there were a perpetual record of his words when he speaks of his assurance that no man might thinke he spake passionately or vainegloriously He knew that his redeemer liued and that at the last day his very flesh should be raised he should see God with ioy By the spirit of God a Christian knowes the things of God yea to this end haue we receiued this Spirit which is of God that wee might know the things which are freely giuen vs of God yea it searcheth the deepe things of God And in the second of the Corinthians Gods children are said to know their glorification as certainely as by sence and experience they know that their bodies which are their earthlie tabernacles shall bee dissolued so certainely are they assured of the building of God not made with hands eternall in the heauens yea they are alwaies confident herein and therefore Gods seruant are taught to pray for the spirit of wisdome and reuelation that the eyes of their vnderstanding may bee inlightned that they might know the hope of their calling and the riches of their inheritance and the exceeding greatnes of Gods power towards them vpon this assurance Paul knowes whom hee hath beleeued and no afflictions should hinder him but he will settle vpon this perswasion that God will keepe his soul which he hath cōmitted to him against the day of Christ. The Apostle Iohn saith We know that we haue passed from death to life And again ye may know that ye haue eternall life And again we know that wee are of God And the Apostle to the Ephesians saith that in Christ we haue boldnesse and accesse with confidence by faith in him yea the very words of assurance are found in Scripture where it is shewed that we may haue much assurance yea full assurance yea the riches of full assurance and men are earnestly exhorted to vse all diligence to get this full assurance to the end and when it is once had neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor anie other creature should be able to seperate them from this loue of God in Iesus Christ. Le ts THe attainment of the sence power comfort of this assurance is exceedingly hindered in all sorts of people First For many can neuer attaine it beecause they are forestalled with euill opinions about it they thinke it is impossible to be had or it is needelesse or it is presumption to seek it or it would prooue a nurse to security if it were had Secondly in the most common hope serues the turne and supplies presumptuously the roome of this sacred gift Thirdly many heare professe and goe farre in the opinion of others and yet get not assurance because they take not a soūd course for the mortification of the body of sinnes that are passed whereas it is certain assurance can neuer be had till there be some sound course taken in the acknowledgement bewailing and reformation of them Fourthly besides a barraen life is an vncomfortable and vnsetled life and contrariwise to abound in Gods worke hath stedfastnesse and a secret rest of heart as an vnspeakeable companion of it Fifthly Melancholy also that is terrors and griefes of which a man can yeelde no true reason is in diuers a mighty let to the setled assurance they might haue They are so eaten vp with those strong conceits that all the comfort is propounded most anend prooues as water spilt vpon the ground especially when this humor is nourished by some extraordinary distemper of the body Physicke not arguments of Scripture must here be vsed or rather both of them Sixthly the loue of earthly things is another great impediment many professors haue their thoughts and cares so eaten vp with worldlinesse that they cannot seriously hold out to follow the directions requisite to the attainement of assurans This grace requires a minde some way fitted for contemplation It is a knowledge will neuer be had with looking downeward Seuenthly further many are so passionate and froward they can get no rest in their heart when as ful assurance would bee lodged in an humble quiet brest Eighthly Others want assurance because they neglect the meanes of assurance which are the word praier or fellowship in the Gospell Ninthly In some there lodgeth some secret sinne vnrepented of and this either keepes out faith or keepes it downe in the cradle that it can get no strength Lastly assurance is the gift of God and hee bestoweth it on whom hee will The signes generally propounded THere are sixteene infallible signes of a child of God as may appeare by the testimonie of most apparent Scripture First Pouerty of spirit for the poore of spirit are blessed and theirs is the kingdome of heauen Secondly Godly sorrow for it causeth repentance not to be repented off euen such a repentance as is vnto saluation Thirdly the loue of the word for this is a sure comfort in affliction and may quicken a mans heart this is a sauour of life vnto life in them that are saued Fourthly The loue of Gods children for hereby we know wee are passed from death to life because wee loue the brethren Fifthly Faith for god so loued the world that hee gaue his onely begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life Sixthly Vprightnesse of heart for God will giue grace and glorie and no good thing will hee with-hold from them that are vpright in heart Seuenthly The spirit of Adoption For it beareth witnes to our spirit that wee are the sonnes of God and if anie man haue not the spirit of Christ he is not his Eighthly Holy desires For euery one that thirsteth shal haue of the water of life freely if they will heare their soules shall liue and enioy the sure mercies of Dauid they are blessed and they shall be satisfied Ninthly The spirit of praier or supplication for whosoeuer calleth on the name of the Lord shall bee saued 10
rest we must labour after and without which we can hardlie haue true assistance that our sorrowes are right First it is inquisitiue it is a hard thing to make sorrow silent and hee that is truelie pricked in his heart cannot with contentment smother his doubts hee will aske the way to Sion and cannot rest till he haue knowne what to doe to be saued those that finde so little to aske and can be so silent in the presence of Gods seruaunts by whom they might bee directed may suspect their sorrowes Secondlie it must not rest in the beginnings or probabilities or hopes or others good opinions or the mending of manie things but a Christian that is truelie humbled will repent stil though he haue turned that is he is so fearefull of being deceiued through the corruption of his owne heart and the wils of Sathan that he will constantlie hold on to confesse and bewaile his sinnes till he may finde assured rest vnto his soule Thirdlie it will admit nothing against God but it makes a man condemne himselfe rather then God when Dauid lay in that mournfull plight that he could finde no comfort night nor daie for a long season and that the question was to be debated whether God had forgotten to bee mercifull c. Hee resolues the fault was in himselfe that it was his infirmitie and that his soule refused comfort Fourthlie it will not rest without cleanenesse godlie sorrow is not water but washing nor euery washing but such as maketh cleane worldlie sorrow may haue much water but cleanseth nothing but godlie sorrow greatlie desireth and loueth puritie Thus of the causes and properties concerning the concomitants there are diuerse things doe accompanie godlie sorrow by which it is discerned for First it is ioyned with a secret trust in the ac-acceptation of God so as no miserie can beate them from the consideration and inward affiance of hope of mercie in the verie disquietnesse of the heart the desire of the soule is to the Lord before his presence though a childe of God be neuer so much cast downe yet hee waits vpon God for the helpe of his countenaunce and in some measure condemnes the vnbeliefe of his owne heart and supporteth himselfe with the hope of the neuer failing compassions of God thus it differs from the sorrowes of Caine and Iudas Secondlie it is ioined with a wonderfull loue of God for hearing of praier it is most deepelie affected with euerie mercie of God felt in praier Dauid loues the Lord because he hath heard his praier at that time when his sorrowes was as the paines of hell Thirdlie it is ioined with a longing after the word Fourthlie it is ioined with a constant desire to glorifie God by a fruitefull profession euerie one that truelie mourneth in Sion is a tree of righteousnesse the planting of the Lord that he may bee glorified Fifthlie it is ioined with a spirit of supplications sorrow that is after God will teach a Christian to pray that could neuer praie before the spirit of compassion is a spirit of supplication Lastlie our sorrowes must be tried by their effects for godlie sorrow First driues vs to a dailie and serious confession of sinne in particular without hiding anie sinne Secondlie it breedes a tender sence of the burthen of sinne neuer doth a Christian feele the heauie loade of sinne as it is sinne till God hath softned his heart by his spirit Thirdlie It workes a mindefulnesse of God and his presence and a deepe impression and thought of good things Fourthlie it causeth a man to sacrifice and deuote himselfe to God Fifthlie it breedes sensiblenesse thankfulnesse for all sorts of mercie Lastlie the Apostle notes seuen effects of Godlie sorrow care apologie indignation feare vehement desire zeale and reueuge 3. Loue to the word IN so much as wicked men especiallie such as are indued with a temporary faith may haue some kinde of affections to the word we must carefullie trie our selues and examine our selues seriously 1. Whether we desire it as our appointed foode constantlie 2. Whether wee loue them that loue the word 3. Whether the loue of the word seperates vs from the wicked 4. Whether we can mourn because others keepe not the word 5. Whether wee loue it aboue all riches and could esteeme it as our heritage 6. Whether it bee our chiefe comfort in affliction 7. Whether in hearing wee receiue it as the word of God and not of men 8. Whether we receiue it in power and much assurance 9. Whether it worke effectually in vs theredresse of our waies and freedome from the bondage of sinne 10. Whether wee loue all the words of God euen the law that with threatning shews vs our sinnes as well as the gospell desiring to hide the word in our hearts that wee might not sinne 11. Whether it be our desire and delight to exercise our selues in it day and night 12. Whether wee can accompt and feele the famine of the word to bee a most bitter crosse 13. Whether wee could bee contented constantlie to labour for it as men doe for the foode that perisheth 14. Whether wee finde a constant sweete taste in it especially in the powerfull preaching of it 15. Whether for the gospell sake we can bee content to denie our reasons affections credits carnall friends pleasures and profits 4. The loue of Gods children OVr loue to the Saints may be tried First by the cause Secondly by the extent Thirdly the manner Fourthly by the effects For the first to loue Gods children because they are begotten of God and for the grace of Gods spirit by which they resemble God or rather for the Lord himselfe desiring to expresse our affections to them because wee doe no good to God himselfe is not found in anie reprobate and so to loue them simplie for the truths sake whereas to loue them for beautie profit companie sake or any naturall or carnall reasons or ends in no signe at all Secondlie hee that truely loues the brethren loues all the brethren hee that loues not all the Saints loues no Saint aright a true Christian hath not the glorious faith of Christ in respect of persons he loues the poorest if he haue true grace aswell as the richest yea he loues the absent aswell as the present yea he loues for the truths sake those he neuer saw yet this hinders not the difference of degrees of loue so as some may be more beloued then others and that by reason of the greater measure of Gods gifts and graces or els by the speciall prouidence of God when the Lord linketh the affection of some Christians in some speciall eminencie of respects and so it is not alwaie needefull that the persons most loued bee most