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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	spirit_n	temple_n	worship_v	2,613	5	9.6572	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93061	The hypocrites ladder, or looking-glasse. Or A discourse of the dangerous and destructive nature of hypocrisie, the reigning and provoking sin of this age. Wherein is shewed how far the hypocrite, or formal professor may go towards heaven, yet utterly perish, by three ladders of sixty steps of his ascending. Together with a looking-glass, clearly discovering that lurking sin of hypocrisie. As also another glass to try sincerity of grace by. / By Jo. Sheffeild minister of the word at Swithins London.	Sheffeild, John, d. 1680.	1657 (1657)	Wing S3063; Thomason E1570_1	172,287	360

unanswerable Jerusalems sin past remedy of old and their sin filled up to the full at last The wrath of God came upon them to the very uttermost But the abuse and contempt of so much grace This fills up the Ephah This puts in the Zach. 5. 8. Talent of lead when the golden Talent of grace is rejected This makes the scarlet sin The blood of Christ trampled upon speaks worse things than the blood of Abel This made God call Israel the people of his wrath How shall wee escape if Isa 10. 6. Heb. 2. 3. wee neglect so great salvation said the Apostle This adds the great figure to the other Cypher and raiseth the reckoning to thousands and millions for by these mens sins 1 Religion is reproached 2 Gods name blasphemed 3 Wicked mens mouths opened 4 The mouths of the godly stopped their hearts are sadned as Jacobs their name and way and professions Gen. 34. 30. stinkes men cry out Here are your Professors Sermon-hearers they have the Bible often in their hands more in their mouths but the world flesh and devil is in their hearts They have a Crown of twelve Stars on their heads but are cloathed with the Moon not the Sun but the Sun trod under foot unlike that Woman described Rev. 12. 1. This makes Sion sit in the dust and the heart of Gods people mourn in secret But wo to them by whom this offence comes These are the sinking drowning damning sins the milstone sins CHAP. IV. Containing other Reasons viz. That all this while they are out of a Right State THe formal Professor after all his fair proceedings and high attainments falls short of heaven because hee fal●s short and is mistaken in three principal points 1 In point of his Estate 2 Of Duties 3 Of Graces First of all hee is mistaken in point of his Estate an hypocrite may bee out of many a state yet not out of a bad state and may bee in many states yet not in a safe state 1 Hee may bee out of a state of Ignorance 2 Pet. 2. 20. 2 Of Error 2 Pet. 2. 18. Hee may bee orthodox enough in his Tenents hee may hold the truth yet hold it in an unrighteous heart and life of his own Rom. 1. 19. 3 Out of a state of open prophaneness 2 Pet. 2. 20. 4 Of opposition and persecution Gamaliel would have no hand in molesting the Apostles for preaching their conscience nor would hee with his good will suffer others Act. 5. 38. 5 Hee may bee out of a state of unbeleef Act. 8. 13. 6 Out of a state of spiritual security and unsensibleness Cain Saul Judas were sensible with horror enough of their unhappy condition And many an hypocrite besides Is 33. 14 15. 7 Hee may bee out of a state of horror also Luke 11. 25. have nothing but peace within But hee is never out of a state of unregeneracy 2 Hee may bee in a state again on the other side 1 Of Knowledge Rom. 2. 20. Joh. 9. 41. 2 Of great Profession Tit. 1. 16. An hypocrite may bee a Professor of the highest Name and Note the greatest Hypocrite in the world is the greatest Professor viz. Antichrist who sits in the 2 Thess 2. Temple of God as the Vicar of Christ There are ordinary Professors who call the themselves Jews but are not Rev. 3. 9. And there are Professors above them who say they are Apostles but are not Rev. 2. 2. And there are some far above them who say they are Christs the Messias c. but are cursed Impostors Mat. 24. 24. 3 An hypocrite may bee in a state of Civility Matth. 23. 27. be a whited Sepulchre 4 Hee may bee in a state of Restraining grace Gen. 20. 6. 5 Hee may bee in a state of Common sanctification Heb. 6. 4. and 10. 29. 6 In state of Faith Act. 8. 13. Luke 8. 13. 7 Of Repentance as Judas Matth. 27. 3. 8 Of Confidence 1 Thess 5. 3. crying Peace peace Job 18. 13. But no hypocrite in the world is in a state of Grace of Conversion Regeneration and Renovation in the spirit of his mind no hypocrite can make out his new birth the new creature the Divine nature his implanting into Christ his living in Christ Christ living in him his being in the Spirit walking in the Spirit hee may bee one standing in the outer Court or one of the houshold of faith hee is not got so far yet as to bee of the middle Temple or the Church mystical on earth or to bee one of the houshold of truth therefore is never like to bee one of the inner Temple or the houshold of love in a Right sense as all the blessed ones are Hee may as the Camelion take all colours but white bee in any state but the right Such are said Jeremy the second to try many conclusions take up and lay down many courses yet never the nearer 1 They are said vers 23. To traverse their wayes 2 Then to mend the matter as you would think to trim their wayes vers 33. And after vers 36. to gad about and to change their wayes But after all this traversing and trimming and gadding and changing their wayes no reforming their wayes CHAP. V. How the Hypocrite fails in point of Duty THere are two things I shall speak to in pursuance of this point 1 Shew what duties an hypocrite is wholly defective in 2 Shew wherein hee differs from a truly godly person in the duties which hee doth perform 1 There are some duties which no hypocrite doth perform As 1. to speak of Prayer an hypocrite may pray no hypocrite doth or can pray in the Spirit or doth watch in prayer 1 Cor. 14. 15. Eph. 6. 18. Zach. 7. 3. Col. 4. 2. hee may bee long or loud in prayer may weep possibly at prayer doth not watch in prayer 2 An hypocrite may say many a prayer many a Pater noster or Lords prayer no hypocrite doth say Daniels prayer and put that into his Liturgy without which all prayers are in vain you may perish with Our Father in your mouth if you have not Daniels prayer in your heart viz. praying that wee may turn from all our Dan. 9. 13. iniquities and understand the truth I have heard some ignorant people say sometime God give us to pray that Good prayer that God may hear this is that good prayer you may pray all manner of prayer and supplication but if you regard iniquity in your hearts God will not Psal 66. 18. regard all your prayers 3 Though I said an hypocrite may say the Lords prayer and not Daniels hee may huddle it over I mean yet no hypocrite is serious in saying the Lords prayer ask him Philips question But understandest Act. 8. 30. thou what thou readest and dost thou minde what thou sayest And he must answer How can I except I had a new heart There are two things wherein hee fails as to the

13 2 Sam. 2. 4 5. 3 Anointings to his Kingdome or like the three different Crowns set successively on the Roman or German Emperor to compleat his Inauguration whereof one is Iron the second Silver the third Gold The Iron Crown is set on the Christians head at first when hee begins to bee sincere though there bee many imperfections Integrality sets on a Crown of Silver when hee hath made some proficiency and Perseverance sets on the Golden Crown when hee hath concluded well Every hypocrite for want of this as of the other two loseth the Crown Look to your selves saith St. John that yee lose not the things you have wrought but that wee 2 Joh. 8 may receive a full reward That yee begin not in the spirit and end in the flesh Gal. 3. 3 Hee that endureth to the end shall bee saved Matth. 24. 13. Bee thou faithful to the death and thou shalt receive the Crown of life Rev. 2. 10. Here every hypocrite falls short how soon so ever hee begins how fast soever hee runs and how far soever hee proceeds hee holds not out the stony and thorny ground alwayes apostatizeth Hee that was inlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift and was made partaker of the Holy Ghost c. at length falls away and is renewed no more by repentance Therefore saith the Apostle Wee shall bee presented unblameable and holy in the sight of God If wee continue in the faith grounded and setled and bee not moved away from the hope of the Gospel Col. 1. 23. The like Heb. 2. 6. Perseverance is called by Gregory Muria virtutum the preserver of grace without which as Summer-fruits they will perish and putrifie and by St. Austin Regina virtutum for though other graces strive and do masteries Perseverantia sola coronatur onely perseverance gets the Crown Thus wee see the main reason why a formal Professor comes to miscarry is for want of these four kindes of Graces Preparative Radicative Nutritive and Consummative I could adde to these a fifth kinde of Grace wherein also every hypocrite is defective Grace privative or expulsive called Privative or Expulsive Grace Privation is made one of the three principles in Natures Generations though the last it is the first and a material principle in Grace-work It is the one half of the Christian Put off the old man then put on the new Graces-work is as Jeremies to supplant root up pluck up Jer. 1. 10 pull down then to build and plant Eradicating grace must go before Radicating Ier. 4. 3 grace or it is vain to sow among thorns If there bee any root of bittterness left wee shall bee sure to fail of or fall from Heb. 12. 15 Deut. 22. 9 the grace of God The Lords field to bee sure must not bee sown with divers seeds Sin and Grace were never so equally poised in the soul as the elementary qualities in the constitution of the body as to agree or as the twelve of Joabs 2 Sam. 2. 16 2 Sam. 3. ● men and the twelve of Abners were so equally matched both fell together no victory on either side but either as Saul and David if grace assisted it grows stronger and stronger or if sin bee countenanced and get strength it will as Abimelech Iudg. 9. 5 2 King 11. 1 1 Tim. 27. 11 and Athaliah to reign alone cut off all the seed Royal and as David among the Philistines leave not one to tell tales If one sin bee left a little one a very childe as Hadad the Edomite it will set all a fire and breed thee much mischief 1 King 11. 17 as hee did to Israel The Expulsive faculty is as necessary to preservation of life and health as is the appetitive attractive and nutritive Retentio secernendorum parens morborum is an Aphorisme in Physick so it is in the soul If grace expel not what is noxious it is at present but weak but will shortly bee no grace at all All the sowing in the world will do no good if the fouls of the aire be suffered to pick it up All Ordinances Promises and Grace it self is received in vain if wee purge-not our selves from all filthiness of flesh and 2 Cor. 6. 1. 7. 1 spirit that wee may perfect holiness in the fear of God CHAP. X. The first Application is of Terror to unsound Professors I Could produce many more reasons to set out more fully the truth of this so weighty a point but I hasten to the use to bee made of it which is various And I shall first begin with an use of Terror to all unsound Professors un-Gospel lived Gospel-hearers Luther wisht once that hee could speak thunder and lightning against the Pope to consume him Oh that I could speak terror and destruction to these to humble them and warn them to flye from the wrath to come and that every word might bee a nayl or goad to stick fast in their hearts as Luther wisht every word a Thunderbolt The Text is nothing but Terror Woe to Chorazin Woe to Bethsaida Woe to Capernaum nothing but Woe Woe Woe as the Angel in the Apocalyps cryed and Jesus Christ pronounceth them not against Infidel-Heathens but against Infidel-Christians impenitent hearers unsound Professors Here is nothing but Terror Terror Terror the sword doubled the third time Ezek. 21. 14. the sword of Christs mouth with which hee doth slay the wicked and it denounced by Christ against the Christian the Pseudo-Christian the Professor the eminent Saint Here is Christ entring into his Temple with his Refiners fire and Fullers sope and who may abide the day of his coming and who can stand when hee appeareth Here wee see Jesus Christ taking the Vials into his own hand and pouring them out not on the Antichristian Synagogue but on the most famous Christian visible Church and the heaviest Vial of all is poured on them who were next the Tabernacle nearest heaven lifted up thither How sad is the condition of unsound beleevers It was a sad day when the Lord rained fire and brimstone out of heaven from the Lord upon Sodome much more sad that the Lord should rain fire and brimstone from the Lord out of heaven upon Goshen out of the Gospel upon such as have and profess the Gospel The Gen. 19 24. Gospels-Sermon is the sinking Sermon not the preaching of the Law and Terror and hell but the preaching Christ and Gospel and Promise and Grace to despisers these are the damning Sermons The savour of death to death I have read of a Roman Lady pressed to death by the Jewels that shee desired to bee given her for betraying a Castle no death or damnation so bad as to bee pressed to death with Gospel-Jewels Christ Jesus the most precious foundation-stone is the heaviest pressing-stone on whomsoever hee shall fall hee grindes them to powder It was sad that Elias should intercede against Israel more sad that

1 Cor. 4. 8. Now yee are full now yee are rich yee have reigned as Kings without us and I would to God yee did reign that wee might also reign with you Wee are fools yee are wise wee are weake yee are strong yee are honourable wee despised They were such as Paraeus saith thought themselves above Pauls Superbi regnum gerunt in capite c. ita Corinthii persuasum habentes se jam absolutos esse in Christianismo nec Pauli opera indigere amplius Par. in loc teaching they cared no more to hear him they were so rich and full and wise and absolutely perfect Here was much grace in shew little in truth So wee read of some beleevers who could beleeve in Christ but hee durst not trust them ever the more for their beleeving Joh. 2. 23 24. But wee read of strange and monstrous beleevers Joh. 8. 30. Many beleeved on him it is said yet were they such as gloried and rested in their carnal priviledges that they were Abrahams seed beleevers that were strangers to the state of spiritual bondage in sin vers 33. Beleevers who went about to kill the Messias because his word could finde no room in their hearts vers 37. Beleevers that were the children of their father the Devil vers 44. Beleevers that must not be reproved nor hear the ttuth from Christ himself but they will flye in his face vers 40. 45 46 47. Beleevers that reproach Christ as an Impostor a Samaritan and one that had a Devil vers 48. Read the whole story Joh. 8. from vers 30. to the end and you will see the picture of strange beleevers who glory they are the chidren of the Church Sons of Abraham never were other than the children of God c. 2 Hee may bee so well as to make no question of his salvation at all but pity others more The Pharisee had no doubt of his own salvation in the world hee Luke 18. 11. pitied the Publican Laodicea so rich in Rev. 3. 17. spirituals as shee wanted nothing if Esau could say hee had enough of worldly goods shee could say shee had grace and gifts and hope enough if Jacob and Gen. 33. 9. Phil. 4. 18. Gen. 33. 11. Paul could say they had all shee will not come behinde any of them Micah 3. 11. The Lord complains they leave not sin yet leave not leaning on him Yet will they lean upon the Lord and say is not the Lord among us none evil shall come upon us They lean so as they will not bee shaken off This leaning is a heavy treading on God as a Cart is full of sheaves Am. 2. 13. God is loaden with their sins but most with their confidence Job 18. 14. They carry their confidence and it them to the King of Terrors that is to hell Jer. 2. 37. God rejecteth their confidences but they will not reject them though they never prosper worse than I thirst for Thirstiness I weep for tears well-pleased I am to bee displeased thus The onely thing I fear is want of fears Suspecting I am not suspicious Amidst these restless thoghts this rest I find For those that rest not here there 's rest behind Famous Gataker of himself when they presume most Hence some have said Hell is full of Assurance and presumption Heaven full of fear and trembling of doubting and mourning Christians The sincere man seeks to hold his Integrity the hypocrite onely to hold his confidence but a little integrity is worth a great deal of confidence The sincere Disciples are noted all to bee self-suspicious onely Judas scorns to change his colour and to bring himself into the least suspicion I read of a Monk that dying blasphemously said Da mihi vitam aternam quam debes 3 Hee may be a man of excellent discourse and language Ahitophel was for wisdome of words an Oracle Jethro a moral Pagan gives instructions to Moses the greatest Prophet about managing civil affairs and matters of Judicature Exod. 18. 17 18 19. Very good Christians may go to School to Plato Aristotle and Seneca to learn morality and finde in them many Exod. 18. 17 18 19. wise and weighty sentences How did Balaams words drop piety zeal and Num. 23. 10. 24. 3 4 5 15. contempt of the world Gamaliels speech was very seasonable to stop persecution Festus speech was full of Justice How Act. 25. 16. ●lt discreetly did that Scribe discourse with our Saviour Mar. 12. 33. Good words are cheap Many mens tongues are like Naphtalies hinde let loose that give goodly words whose hearts are not like Ashers bread full of Royal Dainties Gen. 49. 21 22 Joh. 12. 5 6. Judas himself had words of oyl and butter for his speech hee was the most charitable of all the Apostles the poor mans friend piety and charity and all grace seemed to bee poured into his lips The other Apostles were all taken tardy in their speeches one time or other of Judas I never read hee was taxed An hypocrite may bee more wary in his discourse than sometimes a gracious man is the more the pity James and John overshot themselves Luke 9. 53. Philip Joh. 6. 7. Andrew Joh. 6. 9. Judas not Iscariot Joh. 14. 22. Thomas Joh. 20. 25. Nathaniel Joh. 1. 46. Peter very often as Luke 5. 8. Matth. 16. 22. Joh. 13. 8. 21. 21. To say nothing of his denying swearing cursing once when time was Judas was no curser swearer nor inconsiderate speaker but a cursed hypocrite hee was 5 The hypocrite may have strange stirrings and pangs of conscience at times as if the Spirit began to move them at times as it did sometimes to Sampson Judg. 13. 25. Felix had once a trembling fit Magus a shaking fit when Peter came up and closed with him Thou art in the gall of bitterness c. Nebuchadnezzar had a falling fit Dan. 2. 46. hee fell down before Daniel and worshipped yet Chap. 3. 1. hee was setting up a golden Image and it must bee worshipped and hee that said of Daniels God Chap. 2. 48. Of a truth it is that your God is a God of Gods and a Lord of Lords and thereupon at Daniels request promoted Shadrach Meshach and Abednego in the next Chapter hee must have these men fall down and worship him or his Image or into his furnace they must bee cast and impiously asks what their God could do for them Who is that God that can deliver you out of my hands Pharaoh had his relenting Exod. 8. 28. 9. 27. 10. 16 1 Sam. 24. 16 fit and Saul a weeping fit and as fits they came and went away again They returned from repenting to repenting from a good repenting to a bad from repenting of sin to repent of their repentance Now wee reckon a man to bee of such a temper as hee is constantly of not a man hot who is so in a Feaver-fit or cold who shakes in an

Hee may bewayl sin as sin as polluting as well as damning as damning much more than discrediting as laying open to Gods wrath onely not as exposing to mans judgement and censure 4 Hee may go further and make present speedy and full reparations for injuries done and restitution of goods ill gotten Thus did Zacheus and became a son of Abraham and salvation followed Luke 19. ● But thus did Judas also and became a Son of perdition and damnation followed Here I may insert what Dr. Harris observeth upon this occasion How many saith hee fall short of Judas in this particular yet hope for heaven Hee grieves and confesseth and makes restitution yet goes to his place they neither restore nor confess nor grieve nor see nor feel their sin and must these go to heaven If a Judas go thus far wee must out-go him what hee did wee must do with advantage Hee saw his sin so must wee hee confessed so must wee hee made restitution so must wee and somewhat more since wee look for more Surely this wee must perform this Errand of repentance constantly universally confidently which Judas never did nor hypocrite can do Wee say without restitution repentance is not accepted Sine restitutione panitentia non agitur sed singitur and without faith and renovation of spirit restitution is as vain It is a notable passage in the story of Selimus the first the most barbarous bloody and unnatural Monster of all the Turkish Emperors that near unto his death hee was counselled by Pyrrhus his favorite to build some notable hospital for the poor with the great spoyls gotten from the Persian Merchants in his Empire to whom hee made this reply Wouldest thou Pyrrhus that I should bestow other mens goods wrongfully taken from them upon works of charity and devotion for mine own vain-glory and praise sure I will never do it Nay see they bee restored to the owners Which was done accordingly This Selimus made a better end than many do who live and dye without any remorse or restitution 5 Hee may earnestly desire the prayers of other godly and good people for him as hoping their prayers may do him much good so did Paul often Eph. 6. 19. Rom. 15. 30. Col. 4. 3. But so also may an hypocrite do yea hee may bee so far convinced as to judge himself less worthy and acknowledge others more likely to bee heard than himself as being more in Gods favour and leading better lives Thus did Pharaoh Exod. 8. 28. ch 9. 28. Jeroboam 1 King 13. 6. Zedekiah Jer. 21. 2. Johanan Jer. 42. 2. Magus Act. 8. 24. SECT 2. Contains five steps more 6 Hee may bee a great contemner of the world which is so high a step as few Christians of many do attain to it yet have many moral Heathens who were no more but flesh and blood and had no more but nurture and nature been able to say as Luther did They were never much tempted with covetousness It is marvellous to read what a measure of worldly self-denial what a pitch of contempt of riches they arrived at to the shame and reproach of many now reputed high Saints bee it spoken they were more true to publick interest greater lovers of their Country less corrupted with private designes than many of our Christians are to bee found now adayes M. Attilius Regulus the gallantest of all the old Romans in St. Austins account is commended for this hee got much for his Country nothing for himself seven Acres of land was all that ever hee had A man that valued neither state nor life to serve his Country and preserve his own honour Curius Dentatus another Consul after a great victory over the Samnites and his Country settled was found at dinner feeding hard on a few parched Pease when the Ambassadors were sent to tender him a great summe of gold which hee refused saying Hee had rather bee at his Pease while they whom hee ruled over had the gold than hee to have the Gold and they the Pease When hee was accused once to have kept somewhat from the publick he brought out a woodden Platter and sware it was all hee had reserved to himself of the spoyls Fabricius was offered by Pyrrhus King of Epirus to partake with him in his Kingdome if hee would joyn with him he refused Aristides after the overthrow of the Persians when there was a mass of treasure gold silver and rich apparel would not touch it nor took so much as one farthing of it to himself Oh that we had many Regulesses and such as Aristides Fabricius Curius c. among us Christians in our Commonwealth But now it is auri sacri fames The Saints possess the Kingdomes of the world at least affect them Olim ex publicanis discipuli jam ex discipulis fiunt publicani many Publicans formerly left all and became Disciples following Christ many Disciples now become Publicans and follow the world But I must confess though these noted Heathens were above covetousness and private sordid gain yet not above ambition and vain-glory Satan sometimes casts out Satan and as one wedge sometimes drives out another so doth vice sometimes Many Epicures and voluptuous persons or lazy companions are above the lusts of the world cry out Hang riches who are most bruitish slaves to lusts of the flesh No grace is contrary to another grace but as all sin is contrary to grace so some sin is as contrary to some other sin as prodigality to covetousness It is not grace if it check some sin but if it subdue all 7 Hee may bee a great magnifier and adorer of Ordinances to think himself safe with them lost without them See their carnal confidence 1 Sam. 4. 3. Bring hither the Ark that it may save us say they Bring hither the Ark was well said That it may save us was the worst word they could have spoken They are ill saved who flye to Ordinances and rest there The Lord will bless mee now I have a Levite for my Chaplain said Micha If Judg. 17. 13. men bee prophane and wicked the Ark and Temple and Altar and Sanctum Sanctorum all become forsaken Uzzah perished besides the Ark Hophni and 2 Sam. 6. 7. 1 Sam. 4. 11. 1 King 2. 30. 34. Phineas under it Joab perished at the horus of the Altar In the third of Jer. 16. It is foretold that Gods people should no more say The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord neither shall it come to minde neither shall they remember it neither shall they visit it But they shall bee gathered to the Name of the Lord h. e. They shall not rest in any external form but shall worship in spirit and truth and stay themselves alone upon God himself 8 Hee may bee liberal and free of his purse both to works of piety and charity too the which as they are great testimonies of grace in a childe of God and accepted of God when done in

wings a peece they had also hands under their wings and feet besides And it is said their appearance was like burning coals and their motion was like a flash of lightning Here was nothing but activity and readiness for service with the greatest expedition Let mee quicken you with a few Motives 1 Look you faile not of grace for if you do you will faile of glory and faile of Heaven Heb. 12. 15. you read of failing of the grace of God Rom. 3. 23. you read of failing or falling short of the glory of God It is the same word faile of grace and faile of salvation By grace you are Eph. 2. 5. saved The Schollar must bee at School fitted for the University or hee cannot bee admitted there is not the place to learn his A B C or his Eight parts of Speech and the Christian must bee in the School of the Church trayned up and made fit or meet for that heavenly society here practise the singing the Songs Psal 137. 4. Rev. 14. 1. 3. of the Lord in a strange land that hee may sing them the readier upon Mount Sion The childe usually lives not when borne that had not his due time and growth before borne if wee dye before the time before wee have had our due formation and qualification for our translation Christ formed in us there is no possibility of living there The stroke of death and bar of judgement fit no man for heaven There is not the time and place of conversion The stone and timber was hewed and fitted in Lebanon there was no hammer to be used in the building You must get your 1 King 6. 7. work done here in the Grave is no place of opportunity 2 If you faile of True grace the grace of God it is all one you will faile of salvation There is no base mettal currant in heaven but such as hath the Image or superscription of God upon it It must have solidity and weight The Lord weigheth the spirits They must have their weight Thou Lord hast pleasure in uprightness requirest truth in the inward Prov. 16. 2. 1 Chron. 29. 1● Psal 51. 6. 1 Tim. 1. 5. Rom. 12. 9. Eph. 4. 24. 2 Cor. 1. 12 parts It must not bee the Kings stamp upon Adulterate Coyne It must bee faith unfained love without dissimulation holiness of Truth sincerity of God or nothing 3 If you shall faile in the number and measure of growth and degrees in grace I will not say but you may bee saved that is it is possible but you will have a hard bargain of it to bee as Peter saith Scarcely saved 1 Pet. 4. 18. or as Pauls phrase is to come off with some loss or difficulty and bee saved yet so as by fire 1 Cor. 3. 15. Whereas as Paul saith If you come behinde in no gift of grace you may with comfort wait for the appearing of Christ 1 Cor. 1. 7. And Peter saith If these bee in you and abound an abundant or open and easie entrance will bee granted to you into 2 Pet. 1. 8 11. the Kingdome of God 4 On the other side True Grace attained and maintained gives True peace of conscience and security to the soule in whatsoever distresses If pressed above measure even to despair of life the conscience is full of rejoycing upon the testimony of simplicity and godly sincerity that 2 Cor. 1. 12. not in fleshly wisdome but by the undoubted grace of God such have had their conversation in the world Such may say with holy Job Though hee kill mee I will trust in him but I will maintaine my wayes Job 13. 15 16. before him hee also shall bee my salvation for an hypocrite shall not come before him Such may as Peter saith When the heavens shall pass away with a hideous noise and the elements melt with extremity of heat and the 2 Pet. 3. 10 13. earth with all therein bee dissolved then m●y they according to the promise of God expect a new and better heaven and a new earth Yea such shall have a heaven on earth such shall see the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven Yea saith Rev. 21. 2. Christ to such I will make him a Pillar in the Temple of my God and hee shall go no more out And I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the City of Rev. 3. 12. my God the New Jerusalem which cometh down from my God out of Heaven and I will write upon him my new name 5 Which is more This is the onely way to glorifie God and his glory is much more to bee prized than our glory yea than our salvation To seek our own glory is no glory especially in competition with Gods glory Prov. 25. 27. and it is less sincerity Joh. 7. 18. God hath no glory at all upon earth but from a few sincere gracious souls of whom God saith This people have I formed Isa 43. 21. for my selfe they shall shew forth my praise And the godly have learnt to set a higher price on Gods glory than their own salvation as did our Saviour Joh. 12. 27 28. When hee first prayed for himself My soule is troubled Save mee c. hee gives that over with submission Thy will bee done I came therefore to this houre But bee I saved or not saved Father glorifie thy Name and in the Lords Prayer we are taught to pray first Hallowed bee thy Name and then Thy Kingdome come A godly soule like his Saviour Jo. 17. 4. Desireth first to glorifie God then that God should glorifie him True Grace doth not onely procure to the soule an heaven upon earth but to God an heaven on earth And hee doth seem to rejoyce more and so do the heavenly Rev. 11. 15. 12 10. host when the Kingdomes of the earth are become the Lords by a considerable increase and addition of new godly Converts then that the Kingdome of heaven is the Lords I read that Israel in the day of their solemn Thanksgiving and Rejoycing Exod. 15. 2. did proclaime God to bee their God and did promise to prepare for him an habitation It is more piety to prepare the heart for an habitation for God than to desire God to prepare heaven for an habitation for us 6 Lastly Bee diligent to get to keep to exercise to increase and improve Grace you will live usefully cheerfully fruitfully you will dye hopefully joyfully heaven-fully and enter into heaven with full assurance by a free and open passage 2 Pet. 1. 11. Now to conclude the Use with a few Directions 1 If thou wouldest not meet with Capernaums sad disappointment in the end Luke 14. 28. when thou first makest entrance begin and count the cost and resolve to goe through or never begin Resolve to regard neither winds nor clouds or never lay thy hand to the Plough nor go out Eccles 11. 4.