Spiritual refining

Secondly, The way to obtain this assurance is a fruitful, fervent and active walking in all the ways of holiness. If these things be in you and abound, saith the Apostle. ¹The sparks that are ready to go out, do hardly evidence there is any fire. We doubt of life when we feel scarce any breath; and thus it is here; The more remiss, and negligent, and lazy thou art in the ways of godliness, the less certainty must needs be in thee: And the reason is plain; for if graces exercised be the sign or seal, then the more these appear, the more thriving and flourishing they are, the surer testimonies there will be of thy calling and election. When the Church was lazy and negligent, she lost the comfortable presence and enjoyment of Christ. The standing pools, and sluggish waters, they beget the croaking frogs: And thus he who prayeth, as if he prayed not; believeth, as if he believed not; this man takes the way to have wounds and blows; and all manner of tormenting fears in his heart. Though grace exercised be not the cause or merit of thy salvation, yet it is an infallible sign of thy salvation; As the Rainbow is not a cause but a sign that God will never drown the world. Hence Paul argueth from his fervency in grace to assurance, I have fought a good fight; henceforth is laid up for me a crown of glory, 2 Tim. 49, 10. I have fought a good fight: Christianity was a real combat with sin; with the world, and all opposition; and he had not been idle or cowardly, but always upon his watch, and therefore he had this comfortable persuasion. So that nothing will darken thy soul, more then dull, lazy and negligent walking. When thou abatest or decayest in ⟨p. 674⟩thy graces, these tend to make a sad division between God and thy soul.

Secondly, The way to obtain this assurance is a fruitfull, fervent and active walking in all the waies of holinesse. If these things be in you and abound, saith the Apostle. ¹The sparks that are ready to go out, do hardly evidence there is any fire. We doubt of life when we feel scarce any breath; and thus it is here; The more remiss, and negligent, and lazy thou art in the waies of godlinesse, the lesse certainty must needs be in thee: And the reason is plain; for if graces exercised be the sign or seal, then the more these appear, the more thriving and flourishing they are, the surer testimonies there will be of thy calling and election. When the Church was lazy and negligent, she lost the comfortable presence and injoyment of Christ. The standing pools, and sluggish waters, they beget the croking frogs: And thus he who prayeth, as if he praied not; believeth, as if he believed not; this man takes the way to have wounds and blows; and all manner of tormenting fears in his heart. Though grace exercised be not the cause or merit of thy salvation, yet it is an infallible sign of thy salvation; As the Rainbow is not a cause but a sign that God will never drown the world. Hence Paul argueth from his fervency in grace to assurance, I have fought a good fight; henceforth is laid up for me a crown of glory, 2 Tim. 49, 10. I have fought a good fight: Christianity was a real combate with sin; with the world, and all opposition; and he had not been idle or cowardly, but alwaies upon his watch, and therefore he had this comfortable perswasion. So that nothing will darken thy soul, more then dull, lazy and negligent walking. When thou abatest or decaiest in