Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

1. Christ asks thee here in this World, that thou mayst now be able to give such an answer as thou mayst stand by at the last day, when there will be neither Hopes nor Time to rectify it, if it be insufficient. 'Tis in this something like our Pleadings in Courts of Judicature; we must put in our Plea, and stand to it. Thou knowest Lord, there is through Grace something of sincerity, but for any thing else do thou Lord answer for me. 'Pray 'mark this; when once the Soul can bring the question back again to Christ; thus, Thou askest me what I come for; Lord I come for thee to answer for me. I can't satisfy my own Conscience; 'tis ready to fly in my Face; much less can I satisfy my Jealous Master, unless tho• compassionately answer for me: Lord, thou usest to answer for thine own.

1. Christ asks thee here in this World, that thou mayst now be able to give such an answer as thou mayst stand by at the last day, when there will be neither Hopes nor Time to rectifie it, if it be insufficient. 'Tis in this something like our Pleadings in Courts of Judicature; we must put in our Plea, and stand to it. Thou knowest Lord, there is through Grace something of sincerity, but for any thing else do thou Lord answe• for me. 'Pray 'mark this; when once the Soul can bring the question back again to Christ; thus, Thou askest me what I come for; Lord I come for thee to answer for me. I can't satisfie my own Conscience; 'tis ready to fly in my Face; much less can I satisfie my Jealous Master, unless tho• compassionately answer for me: Lord, thou usest to answer for thine own.

May we then suppose Christ thus to enquire, Who shall lay any thing to the charge of any one, who sincerely comes to wait for me in mine Ordinances? Can we suppose any one to be so daring, as to perk up, and say, I charge all these to be a company of proud, conceited Hypocrites, ⟨p. 8⟩they'll needs be wiser than their Neighbours; they spend their time in running up and down to hear Sermons. Christ doth as it were answer; Dost thou make this a Crime? What he did 'twas out of Love to me, and Obedience to me: He hath chosen that good