or before his credit, when he was plotting the death of Uriah, what discovery do you think he would have made? 7. Add to all these, that as these several distempers, were they but in the same measure in a weak Christian as they are in the best or in most, would yet make the smallest measure of Grace undiscernible (if we might suppose the smallest Grace to be consistent with such a frame;) so it is certain that whoever he be that hath the least measure of Grace to discover in himself, he hath proportionably the least measure of abilities and helps to discover it, and the greatest measure of all the forementioned hinderances: He that hath but a very little Repentance, Faith, Love and Obedience (sincere,) when he goeth to find it out, he hath in the same measure, a Darker Understanding to discern it, then others have; and a greater strangeness and disacquaintance with himself; and more deceitfulness in his heart; and a greater confusion and hurlyburly in his thoughts and Affections, and all more ⟨p. 130⟩out of order and to seek: Also he hath a greater backwardness to the work of self-examination, and can hardly get his heart to it, and more hardly, to do it throughly and search to the quick, and most hardly to hold on against all withdrawing temptations, till he have made a clearer discovery: And lastly, his soul is more mutable then stronger Christians are, and therefore when cross Actings are so frequent, he cannot discern the smallest prevailing Habit. If (when you are weighing Gold) the scales be turned but with one grain, every little jog, or wind, or unsteadfast holding will actually lift up the heavier end, and its preponderation is with great wavering and mobility. 8. Yet further, Consider, those that have least Grace have most sin, habitual and actual; and they are so frequent in transgressing, that their failings are still in their eye: and thereby the prevalency of Christs interest is made more doubtful and obscure: For when he asketh his own conscience, Do I will or love most the world and my fleshly delights, or Christ and his ways? presently conscience remembereth him, at such a time, and such a time thou didst choose thy fleshly pleasures, profits or credit, and refuse obedience: and it is so oft, and so foully, that the soul is utterly at a loss, and cannot discern the Habitual prevalent bent ⟨p. 131⟩and Resolution of the Will. 9.
or before his credit, when he was plotting the death of Ʋriah, what discovery do you think he would have made? 7. Add to all these, that as these severall distempers, were they but in the same measure in a weak Christian as they are in the best or in most, would yet make the smallest measure of Grace undiscernable (if we might suppose the smallest Grace to be consistent with such a frame;) so it is certain that whoever he be that hath the least measure of Grace to discover in himself, he hath proportionably the least measure of abilities and helps to discover it, and the greatest measure of all the forementioned hinderances: He that hath but a very little Repentance, Faith, Love and Obedience (sincere,) when he goeth to finde it out, he hath in the same measure, a Darker Understanding to discern it, then others have; and a greater strangeness and disacquaintance with himself; and more deceitfulness in his heart; and a greater confusion and hurlyburly in his thoughts and Affections, and all more ⟨p. 130⟩out of order and to seek: Also he hath a greater backwardness to the work of self-examination, and can hardly get his heart to it, and more hardly, to do it throughly and search to the quick, and most hardly to hold on against all withdrawing temptations, till he have made a clearer discovery: And lastly, his soul is more mutable then stronger Christians are, and therefore when cross Actings are so frequent, he cannot discern the smallest prevailing Habit. If (when you are weighing Gold) the scales be turned but with one grain, every little jogge, or winde, or unsteadfast holding will actually lift up the heavier end, and its preponderation is with great wavering and mobility. 8. Yet further, Consider, those that have least Grace have most sin, habitual and actual; and they are so frequent in transgressing, that their failings are still in their eye: and thereby the prevalency of Christs interest is made more doubtfull and obscure: For when he asketh his own conscience, Do I will or love most the world and my fleshly delights, or Christ and his wayes? presently conscience remembreth him, at such a time, and such a time thou didst choose thy fleshly pleasures, profits or credit, and refuse obedience: and it is so oft, and so foully, that the soul is utterly at a loss, and cannot discern the Habitual prevalent bent ⟨p. 131⟩and Resolution of the Will. 9.
