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THe life of all we have said, is Practice: Hence I make bold to lay down the Evidences of a poor creature, not worthy to be named, much less to have his Name written in the Book of Life.—He gives them thus:—
| 1. The Texts containing Pro∣mises. | 2. The Graces to which Promises are made; or my particular Evidences. | 3. The truth of these gra∣ces examin'd | 4. The testi∣mony of the Spirit. |
| After acts of faith first put forth upon Christ himself, and closing with him immediately, as if I had no present or by-past grace to evidence my being in him: I now bring in these graces or workings of the Spirit of Christ in me, as handmaids to attend, and to witness to the truth of this adherence unto Christ, which I call my Evidences. | See in the duty of Self-examination and Recei∣ving of the Lords Sup∣per. | Which is either by Arguments & Inferences from the word and work of grace in the heart, or by presence and influence, ma∣nifested by an Heavenly im∣pression and ir∣radiation upon my soul! | |
1. John 3.5, 8. 1 Pet. 1.23. 2. Joh. 1.11, 12. 2 Pet. 1.3, 4. 3. Gal. 2.20. 4. Psal. 119. 6, 7. 5. Psal. 119.5, 128. 6. 2 Cor. 7.10. 7. Ezek. 9.4, 6. Psa. 119.136. 2 Pet. 2.7, 8. 8. Rom. 10.1. 9. John 4.19. Psa. 119.165. 1 Joh. 3.10, 14 1 John 4.7. 10. Rom. 7.23. Gal. 5.17. 11. Psal. 19.12. 12. 1 John 3.3. Rev. 15.3. 13. Mat. 10.39. Mark 10.21. Luke 9 23, 24 14. Psal. 89.15. Isa. 12.3. John 15.11. Rom. 14.17. Gal. 5.22. 1 Pet. 1.8. |
1. My Conversion from corruption to Christi∣anity, the time whereof (I bless God) I remem∣ber. 2. My desire and endeavor to relye on the Pro∣mises of Christ, both for this life and that to come. 3. My Experience that I could act Faith, and lay hold, and rest upon the Promises of God in diverse cases and conditions. 4. The chief aym and bent of my heart, which for the main is God-ward and Christ-ward. 5. My respect to all Gods Commandments, de∣siring that I could give up my self wholly to God to do all his will. 6. My renewed repentance for my often failings, and sins committed against God. 7. My grief for the sins of the times and places where I lived. 8. My earnest desire and prayer to God for Israel, and for all I know, That they might be saved. 9. My love to God in Christ, to his Word, Ser∣vices, Saints, and all things that belong to him. 10. My sense and feeling of the fight and com∣bate between the flesh and the Spirit. 11. My watch to strive against secret sins, which no eye sees, as well as against publike, notorious, scandalous sins. 12. My desire after Christ for his holiness, as hap∣piness; taking him for my King and Husband, as for my Jesus and Savior. 13. My willingness to suffer shame and disgrace, and (if my heart deceive me not) persecution and death for Christ my Savior. 14. The unspeakable joy of Gods Spirit, which sometimes I have felt in and after Ordinances; and especially once, when for the space of two days I was carried away into extasie and ravishment: This was when I began to see Spiritual things; and up∣on which followed more desire and endeavors after grace. |
15. Mal. 4.2. Eph. 4.15. 2 Pet. 3.18. 16. Psa. 119.67. Heb. 12.7, 8, 11. 17. Col. 2.2. Heb. 6.11, 19. Heb. 10.22. 2 Cor. 5.17. Gal. 5.22. Rom. 8.15, 16 18. Psal. 27.14. Psal. 40.1. 19. Psal. 28.6. Psa. 66.18, 19 Psal. 116.1, 2. 20. 2 Tim. 4.8. Rev. 22.20. 21. Phil. 1.10, 11. 22. Psa. 139.23, 24. 23. Rom. 7.24. Rom. 8.13. Gal. 5.17. Col. 3.4, 5.8, 9. Tit. 2.11.12. |
15. My sensible growth in the measure of Gods sanctifying graces, as in knowledge, and faith, and hope, and patient expectation of Gods presence and assistance in all things to come. 16. My patience under infirmities and afflictions, with an earnest desire that I may be bettered by my afflictions. 17. My assurance of faith, and of my spiritual safety; which is 1. Both by the evidences of inter∣nal vision or reflection, for I know that I believe, as certainly as I know that I live: and 2. By ap∣plication of the Promises of the Gospel: and 3. By the effects and fruits growing from the root of grace: and 4. By the testimony of Gods Spirit, which sometimes (after prayer especially) hath sug∣gested to my Spirit that I am Gods childe. 18. A desire to wait upon God, if at any time he delay to hear prayers. 19. The return of my prayers, which many a time God hath graciously made sensible and known to my soul. 20. My sincere and hearty longing for the time of restoring, and for the appearing of Christ, who is my chiefest treasure, and my all in all. 21. My Conscience hath born witness with me, that my heart was sincere towards God. 22. I rest not in the approbation of men, unless I can approve my heart unto God. 23. Besides these and the like, I may fetch (say some Divines) as good, if not better Evidences from Mortification, in denying my self, in over∣coming my passions, in crucifying my corruptions, as from any graces whatsoever. But, O my soul, rest not on these inward graces of the Spirit; now when all is done, begin again to act faith upon Christ immediately with a redoubled strength. |
See in the duty of Self examination and Recei∣ving of the Lords-Sup∣per. | This is either by Arguments & Inferences from the word and work of grace in the heart, or by presence and in∣fluence of the Spirit, manifest∣ed by an Hea∣venly impressi∣on and irradiati∣on upon the soul by a sweet mo∣tion and feeling of Gods good∣ness, and pardon, and mercy, and saving presence to me. |
His Evidences thus gathered in, the prime and especial work of the soul is, the sanctification of Evidences in their several uses. But of that before, Sect. 4. And thus much of Evidences.