and that they have closed covenant with him for the same end, as well as to be saved thereby.

(3.) Men should be sparing to bring in question their sincerity in transacting with God, unless they can instruct the same, or have great presumptions for it. If you can instruct any deceit or guile in your transacting with him, you are obliged to disclaim and rectify it, and to transact with God honestly, and without guile; but if you know nothing of your deceit or guile in the day you did transact with him ; yea, if you can say, that you did appeal unto God in that day that you dealt honestly with him, and intended not to deceive; and did obtest him, ac-> cording to his faithfulness, to search and try if there was any crookedness in your way, and to discover it unto you, and heal it; "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know! my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.") Psal. cxxxix. 23, 24.; and that afterwards you "came to the light, that your deeds might be.. manifest," John iii, 20, 21.; and if you can say that God's answers from his words to you, in so far as you could understand, were answers of peace and confirmations of your sincerity; yea, further, if you dare say, that if upon life and death you were again to transact with him, you can do no other way, nor intend more sincerity and seriousness than before; then I dare say unto thee, in the Lord's name thou ought not to question thy sincerity in transacting with God, but "to have confidence before God, since thy heart doth not condemn thee," 1 John iii, 21.; and thou art bound to believe that "God dealeth

uprightly with the upright man, and with the pure doth shew himself pure," Psal. xviii. 25, 26. If a man intend honesty, God will not suf fer him to beguile himself; yea, the Lord suffereth no man to deceive himself, unless the man intend to deceive both God and men.

(4.) Therefore impute your unfruitfulness to your unwatchfulness and your misbelief, and impute your want of full assurance unto an evil heart of unbelief, helped by Satan to act against the glorious free grace of God; and charge not these things upon want of sincerity in your closing with Christ. And resolve henceforth to abide close by the root, and you shall bring forth more fruit, and by much fruit you lay yourself open to the witness of God's spirit, which will testify with your spirit that you have sincerely and honestly closed with God, and that the rest of your works are wrought in God, and approved of him; and so the witness of the spirit and the water joining with the blood, whereupon you are to lay the weight of your soul and conscience, and where alone you are to sink the curses of the law due unto you for all your sins, and failings in your best things; these three do agree in one, viz. that this is the way of life and peace, and that you have interest therein, and so you come to quietness and full assurance; John xv. 4, 5. “Abide in me, and I in you: as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing," John xiv. 21. 23. "He that hath

my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me, and he that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will-manifest myself to him. If a man love me he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." Rom. viii. 16. "The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God." 1 John v. 8. "There are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood; and these three agree in one.

O blessed bargain of the new covenant, and Ad thrice blessed Mediator of the same! Let him ride prosperously, and subdue nations and languages, and gather in all his jewels, that honoured able company of the first born, that stately troop of kings and priests whose glory it shall be to have washed their garments in the blood of that spotless Lamb, and whose happiness shall con tinually flourish in following him whithersoever he goeth, and in being in the immediate company of the ancient of days, one sight of whose face shall make them in a manner forget that ever they were in the earth. Oh if I could persuade men to believe that these things are not yea and nay, and to make haste towards him, who hasteth to judge the world, and to call men to an account, especially concerning their im provement of this gospel. "Even so, come Lord Jesus."

THE WHOLE TREATISE RESUMED IN A FEW QUES TIONS AND ANSWERS.

Quest. What is the great business a man hath to do in the world?,

Answ. To make sure a saving interest in Christ Jesus, and to walk suitably thereunto.

Q. 2. Have, not all the members of the visible church a saving interest in Christ?

A. No verily; yea, but a very few of them

have it.

Q. 3. How shall I know if I have a saving interest in him?

A. Ordinarily the Lord prepareth his own way in the soul by a work of humiliation, and discovereth a man's sin and misery to him, and exerciseth him so therewith, that he longs for the physician Christ Jesus.

Q. 4. How shall I know if I have got a competent discovery of my sin and misery?

A. A competent sight of it makes a man take salvation to heart above any thing in this world: it maketh him disclaim all relief in himself, even in his best things: it maketh Christ, who is the Redeemer, very precious to the soul: it makes a man stand in awe to sin afterwards, and makes him content to be saved upon any terms God pleaseth.

Q. 5. What other ways may I discern a saving interest in him?

A. By the going out of my heart seriously and affectionately towards him, as he is held out in the gospel; and this is faith or believing abo Q. 6. How shall I know if my he heart goeth out after him aright, and that my faith is true. saving faith? luonized ania ymaited W. 11 A. Where the heart goeth out aright after him in true and saving faith, the soul pleaseth Christ alone above all things, and pleaseth him in all his three offices, to rule and instruct as well as to save, and is content to cleave unto him, whatsoever inconveniences may follow.

Q. 7. What other mark of a saving interest in Christ can you give to me?

Sd tod A. He that is in Christ savingly is a new creature, he is graciously changed and renewed, in some measure, in the whole man, and in all his ways pointing towards all the known commands of God. shoebo to trong diob Q. 8. What if I find sin now and then prevailing

Ar me nenayo

every sin deserveth everlasting vengeance, yet if you be afflicted for your failings, confess them with shame of face unto God, resolving to strive against them honestly henceforth, and flee unto Christ for pardon, you shall obtain mercy, and your interest stands sure.

Q. 9. What shall the man do who cannot lay claim to Christ Jesus, nor any of those marks spoken of?

A. Let him not take rest until he make sure unto himself a saving interest in Christ.

Q. 10. What way can a man make sure an interest in Christ, who never had a saving interest in him hitherto ?