A cabinet of choice jewels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…A cabinet of choice jevvels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…

The fourth Proposition is this. If this way of trying our spiritual estates by holy and gracious qualifications, were not both lawful and useful, then certainly the holy Spirit would never have prescribed it, nor never have pressed men so earnestly upon it, as we find he has done in the blessed Scripture. Take a taste, 2 Cor. 13.5. Examine your selves whether ye be in the faith; ¹prove your own selves. The precept is doubled, to teach us to redouble our diligence in this most needful, but much neglected duty of self-examination. The final trial of our eternal estates, doth immediately and solely belong to the Court of heaven, but the disquisitive part belongs to us. Here are two emphatical words in the Greek; First, [Greek or Hebrew], examine your selves. The word in the general signifies to take an experimental knowledge of any thing, that is either uncertain, unknown or hidden; most men are great strangers to God, to Christ, to Scripture, and to themselves, and therefore saith the Apostle, Examine your selves. Now if there were not sure marks and infallible signs whereby men may certainly know what their present estate is, and ⟨p. 343⟩how 'tis like to go with them in another world, the redoubled command of the Apostle would be in vain. The second Greek word is [Greek or Hebrew], prove your selves. The original word signifies a severe and diligent inquisition into our selves, so as to have a full experience of what is in us. Doubtless the Apostle would never call again and again upon us, to try and examine our selves whether we be in the faith, if it were not lawful to come to the knowledge of our faith, or of our being in the state of faithful Christians in a discursive way, arguing from the effect to the cause. So in that, 2 Pet. 1.10. Wherefore the rather brethren, give all diligence to make your calling and election sure. The Greek word translated give diligence, is very emphatical,² it signifies to do a thing not in an overly, lazy, careless way, but to do a thing with industry, vigilancy and unweariedness of spirit. Now it is granted on all hands, that election cannot be made more sure in respect of God or it self, but only in respect of us, that we may be more persuaded of it. Election cannot be made more sure than it is already, for those whom God hath elected shall be certainly glorified, but we must make it sure on our parts;