liberty without some measure of a spiritual conflict; in this respect," he that is born of God doth not sin;" and, "he who doth so sin, hath not seen God," 1 John iii. 6. 9. I say, God is the hope of his people, and not their own holiness. If they intend honesty, and long seriously to be like unto him, many failings should not weaken their hope and confidence, for it is in him "who changeth not," Mal. iii. 6.; "and if any man sinneth, he hath an advocate," 1 John ii. 1. Now, when men place their hope in any other thing beside the Lord, it is no wonder they be kept in a staggering condition, according to the changes of the thing which they make the ground of their hope, since they give not to God the glory due to his name, and which he will not give to another. Compare Psal. ix. 10. "They who know thy name, will put their trust in thee," with Isaiah xlii. 8. "My glory will I not give to another: I am the Lord, that is my name.

(4.) Many are ignorant of the different ways and degrees of God's working with his people, and this doth much darken their knowledge, and reflex acts of their interest in him. This ignorance doth run mainly on three heads, (1.) They are ignorant of the different degrees and ways of that law-work which ordinarily dealeth with men, and of the different ways how the Lord bringeth home people at first to Christ. They consider not that the jailer is not kept an hour in bondage, Acts xvi. Paul is kept in suspense three days, Acts ix. Zaccheus not one moment, Luke xix. (2.) They are ignorant of, at least they do not consider how different the degrees of sanctifica

tion are in the saints, and the honourable appearings thereof before men in some, and the sad blemishings thereof in others. Some are very blameless, and more free of gross out-breakings, adorning their profession much, as Job, chap. 1. and Zecharias, Luke 1. These are said to be "perfect and upright, fearing God, and eschewing evil; righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless :" others were subject to very gross and sad evils, as Solomon, Asa, &c. (3). They are ignorant of the different communications of God's face, and expressions of his presence. Some do walk much in the light of God's countenance, and are much in sensible fellowship with him, as David was; others are "all their days kept in bondage through fear of death,' Heb. ii. 15. Surely the ignorance of the different ways of God's working and dealing with his people doth very much darken the knowledge of their interest in him, whilst they usually stint the Lord to one way of working, which he doth not keep, as we have shewed in the former examples.

The second thing which doth darken men about their interest in Christ is, there is one thing or other wherein their heart in some respect doth condemn them, as dealing deceitfully and guilefully with God. It is not to be expected that these can come to clearness about their interest whose heart doth condemn them for keeping up some known transgression against the Lord, which they will not let go, neither are using the means which they know to be appointed by God for

delivering them from it: neither can these come to clearness who know some positive duty commanded them in their stations, which they deceitfully shift and shun, not closing cheerfully with it, or not willing to be led into it; these are also, in some respect, condemned of their own heart, as the former sort; and in that case it is difficult to come to a distinct knowledge of their state; 1 John iii. 21. "If our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God." It is supposed there, that a self-condemning heart maketh void a man's confidence proportionally before God.

I do not deny but that men may on good grounds plead an interest in Christ in the case of prevailing iniquity; Psal. Ixv. 3. " Iniquities prevail against me; as for our transgressions thou shalt purge them away." Rom. vii. 23, 24, 25. "I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death! I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin." But it is hard to be attained, if at all attainable, when the heart is dealing deceitfully, and entertaining known guile in a particular: therefore let people clear themselves of the particular which they know too well. It is the thing which doth meet them, marring their confidence and access in all their approaches unto God; see Judges x. 10-13. the idolatries of

the people are cast up to them by the Lord, and their suit rejected thereupon. That which draweth away the heart first in the morning, and last at night, like "an oven heated at night, and it burneth as a flaming fire in the morning," spoken of the wicked, Hosea vii. 6. and taketh up their thoughts often on their bed; as it is said of some, Psal. xxxvi. 4. "He deviseth mischief upon his bed," &c. That which doth lead away the heart in time of religious duty ordinarily, and the remembrance of which hath power to enliven and quicken the spirits more than the remembrance of God, so as "their heart is after the heart of some detestable thing, Ezek. xi. 21.; that which withstandeth men when they would gripe the promise, as God casteth up men's sins to them who are meddling with his covenant, Psal. 1. 16, 17. "What

hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?” &c. that is the thing which doth mar the knowledge of a gracious state; let it go, and it will be more easy to reach the knowledge of an interest in Christ.

The third thing which hindereth the knowledge of an interest in Christ is, a spirit of sloth and careless negligence in many. They complain that they know not whether they be in Christ or not but as few take pains to be in him, so few take pains to try if they be in him. It is a work and business which cannot be done sleeping, 2 Cor. xiii. 5. “Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith: prove your own selves; know ye not your ownselves," &c. The several words used there, viz. examine,

prove, know-say that there is a labour in it; "Diligence must be used to make our calling and election sure," 2 Peter i. 10. It is a business above flesh and blood; the "holy anointing which teacheth all things," 1 John ii. 20. 27. must make us "know the things freely given to us of God," 1 Cor. ii. 12. Shall the Lord impart a business of so great concernment, and not so much as "be inquired after to do it for men?" Ezek. xxxvi. 37. Be ashamed, you who spend so much time in reading of romances, in adorning your persons, in hawking and hunting, in consulting the law concerning your outward state in the world, and it may be in worse things than these; be ashamed that you spend so little time in the search of this, whether ye be an heir of glory or not? whether you be in the way that leadeth to heaven, or that way which will land you in darkness for ever? You who judge this below you, and unworthy of your pains any part or minute of your time, it is like, in God's account, you have judged yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, so as you shall have no lot with God's people in this

matter.

The fourth thing that doth darken the knowledge of an interest in Christ is, men do not condescend upon what would satisfy them. They complain that God will not shew unto them what he is about to do with them, but cannot yet say they know what would satisfy concerning his purpose. This is a sad thing. Shall we think these are serious who have never as yet pitched on what would satisfy them, nor are making earnest inquiry after what should satisfy? If the