What say you then, Beloved Hearers, are you willing to know your hearts, or not? Whether you are dead to the world and the world to you? Me thinks you should be willing; when you see the Question is as great, as Whether you are Christians indeed or not? and as great, as Whether you are in a state of salvation or not? Me thinks you that naturally love knowledge, and would be at some pains to know all that's about you in the world, should not be unwilling to know your selves, and specially, so great a matter by your selves, as Whether you are the heirs of salvation or damnation? for in the issue it is no less. Especially when your disease is such as must be cured by the Light, if ever it be cured. You cannot lament your worldliness and sensuality, you cannot lament your disaffectedness to God, and intolerable neglects of him, till you find them out. You cannot ⟨p. 79⟩betake you to Christ for the pardon of this sin, till you have discovered it. A sin unseen, will never humble you and break your hearts, nor fit them for Christ to bind them up. If you see not that the world is yet alive in you, you will not apply the Cross, for the crucifying of it, nor have recourse to a Crucified Christ for that End. Moreover, it is the Nature of all sin, and worldly vanities, to seem best in the dark, and basest in the Light. As God and heavenly things seem best in the greatest Light, and worst in the Darkness. None do set light by God, and Grace, and Glory, but those that know them not. And none do set much by worldly fleshly things, but those that know them not. As illumination brings in God into the soul, so doth it help to cast out Satan and the world. When mens eyes are opened, and they are turned from darkness to light, they are presently turned from the power of Satan unto God, Acts 26. 18. These infernal worldly spirits cannot endure the Light: They walk not by day, but haunt them whom they captivate, in the night of ignorance: and if we do but come in upon them with Light, they are gone. It is the same Devil that is called, The Prince of this world, and the Ruler of the darkness of this world, Eph. 6. 12. and this power is a power of darkness, Luke 22. 53. and therefore as light immediately expelleth darkness; so if you will admit the Light of Christ, it will deliver you from the power of darkness, Col. 1. 13. and cause you to cast off the works of darkness, Rom. 13. 12.
What say you then, Beloved Hearers, are you willing to know your hearts, or not? Whether you are dead to the world and the world to you? Me thinks you should be willing; when you see the Question is as great, as Whether you are Christians indeed or not? and as great, as Whether you are in a state of salvation or not? Me thinks you that naturally love knowledge, and would be at some pains to know all thats about you in the world, should not be unwilling to know your selves, and specially, so great a matter by your selves, as Whether you are the heirs of salvation or damnation? for in the issue it is no less. Especially when your disease is such as must be cured by the Light, if ever it be cured. You cannot lament your worldliness and sensuality, you cannot lament your disaffectedness to God, and intolerable neglects of him, till you find them out. You cannot ⟨p. 79⟩betake you to Christ for the pardon of this sin, till you have discovered it. A sin unseen, will never humble you and break your hearts, nor fit them for Christ to bind them up. If you see not that the world is yet alive in you, you will not apply the Cross, for the crucifying of it, nor have recourse to a Crucified Christ for that End. Moreover, it is the Nature of all sin, and worldly vanities, to seem best in the dark, and basest in the Light. As God and heavenly things seem best in the greatest Light, and worst in the Darkness. None do set light by God, and Grace, and Glory, but those that know them not. And none do set much by worldly fleshly things, but those that know them not. As illumination brings in God into the soul, so doth it help to cast out Satan and the world. When mens eyes are opened, and they are turned from darkness to light, they are presently turned from the power of Satan unto God, Acts 26. 18. These infernall worldly spirits cannot endure the Light: They walk not by day, but haunt them whom they captivate, in the night of ignorance: and if we do but come in upon them with Light, they are gone. It is the same Devil that is called, The Prince of this world, and the Ruler of the darkness of this world, Eph. 6. 12. and this power is a power of darkness, Luke 22. 53. and therefore as light immediatly expelleth darkness; so if you will admit the Light of Christ, it will deliver you from the power of darkness, Col. 1. 13. and cause you to cast off the works of darkness, Rom. 13. 12.
