this; Matth. xiii. 44. Mark x. 28, 29. Heb. x. 34. Rom. v. 3. Acts v. 41. (3). That must be a sure and certain knowledge, and no fancy, whereupon a man voluntarily and freely doth adventure his soul when he is stepping into eternity, with this word in his mouth, "This is all my desire;" but such a knowledge is this, 2 Sam. xxiii. 5.

And again, not only may a godly man come to the sure knowledge of his gracious state, but it is more easily attainable than many do apprehend: for supposing, what shall be afterwards proved, that a man may know the gracious work of God's spirit in himself; if he will but argue rationally from thence, he shall be forced to conclude his interest in Christ, unless he deny clear scripture truths. I shall only make use of one here, because we are to speak more directly to this afterwards. A godly man may argue thus, Whosoever receive Christ are justly reputed the children of God, John i. 12. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God;" but I have received Christ all the ways which the word there can import; for I please the device of salvation by Christ; I agree to the terms; I welcome the offer of Christ in all his offices, as a king to rule over me, a priest to offer and intercede for me; a prophet to teach me; I lay out my heart for him and towards him, resting on him as I am able. What else can be meant by the word RECEIVING? Therefore may I say, and conclude fairly and warrantably, I am justly to reckon myself God's child, according to the aforesaid scripture, which cannot fail.

The second thing to be premised is, That a man be savingly in covenant with God is a matter of the highest importance; "It is his life :" Deut. xxxii. 47. and yet very few have or seek after a saving interest in the covenant, and many foolishly think they have such a thing without any solid ground; Matth. vii. 14. " Few find or walk in the narrow way." This should alarm people to be serious about the matter, since it is of so great consequence to be in Christ, and since there be but few that may lay just claim to him: and yet many do foolishly fancy an interest in him, who are deceived by a false confidence, as the foolish virgins do, Matth. xxv.

The third thing to be premised is, men must resolve to be determined by scripture in this matter of their interest in Christ. The spirit speaking in the scripture is judge of all controversies Isaiah viii. 20. "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them ;" and of this also whether a man be savingly in covenant with God or not. Therefore do not mock God whilst you seem to search after such a thing. If we prove from Scripture, which is the uncontroverted rule, that you are gracious, and have stricken covenant savingly with God, then resolve to grant so much, and to acquiesce in it: and if the contrary appear, let there be a determination of the controversy, else you do but mock the Lord, and so "your bands shall be made strong," Isaiah xxviii. 22. ; for "a jot of his word cannot fail," Matth. v. 18, Therefore seek eye salve from Christ to judge of things ac

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cording as the word of God shall discover them to be.

SECT. 2. Reasons why so few come to the clear knowledge of their Interest in CHRIST.

The fourth thing to be premised is, although the matter of a man's interest in Christ be of so great importance, and the way to attain to the knowledge of it so plainly held forth in the scriptures, vet there be but few who reach the distinct knowledge of it. And that this may not discourage any person from attempting it, I shall hint some few reasons why so few come to the clear knowledge of it; which will also prepare the way for what is to be spoken afterwards.

The first thing which doth hinder many from the knowledge of their interest in Christ, is their ignorance of some special principles of religion; as (1.) That it was free, love in God's bosom, and nothing in man, that moved him to send a Saviour to perfect the work of redemption, John iii. 16. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son." Men are still seeking some ground for that business in themselves, which leads away from suitable and high apprehensions of the first spring and rise of God's covenant favour to his people, which hath no reason, cause, or motive in us; and so they cannot come to the knowledge of their interest.

(2.) They are ignorant how that love doth effectually discover itself to a man's heart, so as he hath ground to lay claim to it, viz. That ordinarily it doth, 1st, discover his broken state in him

self, because of sin and corruption defiling the whole man, and any thing in him that might be called a righteousness; "All these

things are loss and dung," Philip. iii. 6, 7, 8. 2dly, It discovereth Christ as the full and satisfying treasure above all things; "The man finds a treasure, for which with joy he selleth all," &c. Matth. xiii. 44. 46. 3dly, It determineth the heart, and causeth it to approach unto a living God in the ordinances; Psal. lxv. 4. "Blessed is the man whom thou. choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts," and caus- · eth the heart to wait upon him, and him alone; Psal. lxii. 5. "My soul, wait thou only upon God." Thus having dropped in the seed of God in the heart, and formed Christ there, Gal. iv. 19. the heart is changed and made new in the foresaid work. Ezek. xxxvi. 26.; and God's law is so stamped upon the heart in that change, Jer. xxxi. 33. that the whole yoke of Christ is commended to the man without exception; Rom. vii. 12. 16. The law is acknowledged good, holy, just, and spiritual.. Upon all which, from that new principle of life, there flow out acts of a new life, Gal. v. 6. " faith worketh by love ;" Rom. vi. 18. 22. and the man becometh "a servant of righteousness unto God," which doth especially appear in the spirituality of worship, John iv. 24. Rom. vii. 6.; men then "serve God in spirit and truth; and in the newness of the spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter;" and tenderness in all manner of conversation; the man then "exerciseth himself

how to keep a conscience void of offence towards God and towards men," Acts xxiv. 16. Now this way doth the love of God discover itself unto man, and acteth on him, so as he hath ground of laying some good claim to it; so as he may justly, think that the love which sent a Saviour had respect that such a man as hath found these things made out unto him. Surely ignorance in this doth hinder many from the knowledge of their interest in Christ; for if a man know not how God worketh with a person, so as he may justly lay claim to his love, which was from eternity, he will wander in the dark, and not come to the knowledge of an interest in him.

(3.) Many are also ignorant of this, that God alone is the hope of his people: he is called "the hope of Israel," Jer. xiv. 8. Although inherent qualifications are evidences of it, yet the staying of the heart upon him as a full blessing and satisfying portion is faith; 1 Peter i. 21. "The faith and hope must be in God" and the only proper condition which giveth right to the saving blessings of the covenant Rom. iv. 5. "To him that worketh not, but believeth-faith is counted for righteousness." Indeed, if any person take liberty here, and turn grace into wantonness, there is without doubt in so far a delusion; since there!" is mercy with him, upon condition that it conciliate fear to him," Psal. cxxx. 4. Yea, hardly can any man who hath found the foresaid expressions of God's love made out upon him, make a cloak of the covenant for sinful