Spiritual refining

And first, We must give all diligence and heed to the obtaining of this privilege. ¹We must make it our business, it must be importunately begged for in prayer. Thus the text, The rather give all diligence; neglect not this, whatsoever thou passest by. Now it is no wonder that natural men they look on it as a matter not to be regarded; because they have never been wounded with sin, they have always had a self-fullness, a self-righteousness, and by this means have not breathed and thirsted after this assurance; Qui nil dubitat, nil discit; he that never doubts will never learn: And so he that hath not been in the depths of Gods displeasure for sin, he that hath not felt his frowns and his anger, he never comes to think, oh what a blessed and happy thing it is to be truly assured of the grace of God! that I am such an one to whom the Covenant of grace belongs! a child to whom the bread of the promise appertaineth, and not a dog! Hence therefore it is that men sit down without this privilege, they do not look at it as a great mercy; they do not prize it above all other things; and therefore they do not, because they were never sensible of the want of it. They never lay wounded with sin, they never were amazed at the hypocrisy and unsoundness of their hearts; They never felt themselves dropping as it were into hell; and hereupon they give no diligence for this assurance. You see in earthly things, how careful men are to make all their bargains sure; in all purchases to make their evidences sure: Poor men think they are undone, if they lose their evidences about an earthly inheritance, and never think themselves miserable, though they have no true ground or evidence for their spiritual condition.

And first, We must give all diligence and heed to the obtaining of this priviledge. ¹We must make it our businesse, it must be importunately begged for in praier. Thus the text, The rather give all diligence; neglect not this, whatsoever thou passest by. Now it is no wonder that naturall men they look on it as a matter not to be regarded; because they have never been wounded with sin, they have alwaies had a self-fulness, a self-righteousness, and by this means have not breathed and thirsted after this assurance; Qui nil dubitat, nil discit; he that never doubts will never learn: And so he that hath not been in the depths of Gods displeasure for sin, he that hath not felt his frowns and his anger, he never comes to think, oh what a blessed and happy thing it is to be truly assured of the grace of God! that I am such an one to whom the Covenant of grace belongs! a childe to whom the bread of the promise appertaineth, and not a dog! Hence therefore it is that men sit down without this priviledge, they do not look at it as a great mercy; they do not prize it above all other things; and therefore they do not, because they were never sensible of the want of it. They never lay wounded with sin, they never were amazed at the hypocrisie and unsoundness of their hearts; They never felt themselves dropping as it were into hell; and hereupon they give no diligence for this assurance. You see in earthly things, how carefull men are to make all their bargains sure; in all purchases to make their evidences sure: Poor men think they are undone, if they lose their evidences about an earthly inheritance, and never think themselves miserable, though they have no true ground or evidence for their spirituall condition.