Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…

THE Characters of a strong confirmed Christian. page 1 1. He liveth by such a Faith of unseen things as governeth his soul instead of sight. 6 2. He hath cogent Reasons for his Religion. 9 3. He seeth the well-ordered frame of sacred verities, and the integral parts in their harmony or consort; and setteth not up one truth against another. 11 4. He adhereth to them, and practiseth them, from an inward connatural principle, called, The Divine Nature, and The Spirit of Christ. 12 5. He serveth not God for fear only, but for Love. 14 6. He loveth God, 1. Much for his Goodness to himself. 2. And more for his Goodness to the Church. 3. And most of all for his essential Goodness and perfection. 16 7. He taketh this Love and its Expressions, for the heart and height of all his Religion. 19 8. He hath absolutely put his soul and all his hopes into the hand of Christ, and liveth ⟨image 100⟩by faith upon him as his Saviour. 21 9. He taketh Christ as the Teacher sent from God, and his Doctrine for the truest wisdom, and learneth of none but in subordination to him. 23 10. His Repentance is universal and effectual, and hath gone to the Root of every sin. 25 11. He loveth the Light, as it showeth him his sin and duty; and is willing to know the worst of sin, and the most of duty. 27 12. He desireth the highest degree of Holiness, and hath no sin which he had not rather leave than keep, and had rather be the Best, though in poverty, than the Greatest in prosperity. 30 13. He liveth upon GOD and HEAVEN as the End, Reward, and Motive of his Life. 32 14. He counteth no cost or pains too great for the obtaining it, and hath nothing so dear which he cannot part with for it. 35 15. He is daily exercised in the practice of Self-denial as (next to the Lovers of God) the second half of his Religion. 38 16. He hath mortified his fleshly desires, and so far mastereth his senses and appetite, that they make not his obedience very uneasy or uneven. 42 17. He preferreth the means of his holiness and happiness, incomparably before all provisions and pleasures of the flesh. 45 18. He is crucified to the world, and the