4 There is a mixture in his affections, in his dealing with men. In a Christian you shall find much patience, and yet without all forbearance; very patient, and yet by no means bearing with evil, Rev. 2.2. This is the nature of spiritual patience; injuries put upon himself, he endures with patience, but injuries against God, he will by no means bear.

4 There is a mixture in his affections, in his dealing with men. In a Christian you shall finde much patience, and yet without all forbearance; very patient, and yet by no means bearing with evil, Rev. 2.2. This is the nature of spirituall patience; injuries put upon himselfe, he endures with patience, but injuries against God, he will by no means bear.

5 You shall find gentleness and meekness mixed with much austerity and stiffness. The wisdom that is from above is peaceable and gentle, Numb. 12.3. Moses was the meekest man upon the earth, yet the same Moses so meek and gentle in his own cause, if it be in Gods cause, he is so stiff that when the King would have the cattle left, he would not leave so much as an hoof at the Kings command, he is inflexible in Gods cause; even as the liquid air most easily yields to the least fly, yet if God set it as a firmament, to separate the waters above from the waters below, it stands like a wall of brass, it yields not, only lets it drop through by small drops, as through a sieve, but not to fall into a deluge: So, though a Christian be as the liquid air, easy and gentle, apt to yield, yet in a cause of God, let there be never so great a mass pressing on him, he stands steadfast and unmoveable.

5 You shall find gentlenesse and meeknesse mixed with much austerity and stiffnesse. The wisdome that is from above is peaceable and gentle, Numb. 12.3. Moses was the meekest man upon the earth, yet the same Moses so meek and gentle in his own cause, if it be in Gods cause, he is so stiffe that when the King would have the cattle left, he would not leave so much as an hoof at the Kings command, he is inflexible in Gods cause; even as the liquid air most easily yeelds to the least fly, yet if God set it as a firmament, to separate the waters above from the waters below, it stands like a wall of brasse, it yeelds not, only lets it drop through by small drops, as through a sieve, but not to fall into a deluge: So, though a Christian be as the liquid air, easie and gentle, apt to yeeld, yet in a cause of God, let there be never so great a masse pressing on him, he stands stedfast and unmoveable.

6 There is a modesty mixed with magnanimity, a thing not easily found in moral virtues Paul looks at all his outward privileges but as dross and dung in comparison of Christ; a man that speaks of himself, I am less then the least of all Saints, Eph. 3.8. though he were not inferior to the chiefest of the Apostles, 2 Cor. 12.11. Yet this modest man, Acts 10.37. when the Magistrates had whipped him and his companions, and then when they had done, would have sent them away; Nay, (saith he) but let them come and fetch us; see the magnanimity of his spirit, when his person, or calling, or cause is called in question, in that case he will put forth himself; deep modesty and high magnanimity to meet in one man, at one time, in the same action, this is a work above nature, Psal. 131.1, 2. You would think that such a weaned child as David was, should not have an high thought or word in him; but he that was thus mean, and low, and thus weaned from earthly preferments, if you come to speak of spiritual things, he looks at all worldly things as too mean for ⟨p. 400⟩him. Psal. 24.7.9. Lift up your heads ye gates, and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors, that is, let your hearts be lifted up to higher objects then the world can afford; his heart is weaned from the Kingdom and Crown, but to Gods favour and grace, and the Kingdom of heaven; why, are not these of an higher nature then they? Yes, and yet in these matters his heart is in a kind haughty, and his eyes lifted up, and he exerciseth himself in great matters; so that a Christian hath not a base spirit, but an heart lifted up above the world, to the favour of God, and pardon of sins, and an eternal Kingdom. Psal. 149.6. Let the high praises of God be in their mouths, In the Or ginal, high things, great and mighty things of God, his mighty majesty, and power, and glory and praise, let these be in your mouths. He would have a Christians spirit filled with high thoughts, and his mouth with high words, high words and powerful threatenings to bind Princes, the high promises and commands of God; nay, the high counsels of God, that are unsearchable, yet as far as they are revealed, a Christian will be prying into them, yet with much modesty and Christian magnanimity, his spirit searcheth out the deep things of God.

3 The love of our enemies is a particular virtue of Gods Saints, Matth. 5.45, to 47. Now this very grace hath in it contrary works in our heart, it's like fire, and water both; naturally our hearts are very cold, and hard, and frozen like ice towards our enemies, but Christ comes and thaws these frostlings, and warms us with compassion towards them, that his heart oftentimes mourns for them, to see them take such unjust courses against them who have not wronged them; and on the other side, whereas a natural man if he see his enemy, he boils in wrath and passion against him, love comes like a cool water and cools the heat of passion in our heart.

3 The love of our enemies is a particular virtue of Gods Saints, Matth. 5.45, to 47. Now this very grace hath in it contrary works in our heart, it's like fire, and water both; naturally our hearts are very cold, and hard, and frozen like ice towards our enemies, but Christ comes and thawes these frostlings, and warms us with compassion towards them, that his heart oftentimes mourns for them, to see them take such unjust courses against them who have not wronged them; and on the other side, whereas a naturall man if he see his enemy, he boyls in wrath and passion against him, love comes like a cool water and cools the heat of passion in our heart.

For application.

Wouldst thou know whether thou hast life or no? Why, hast thou found thy heart affected with joy for Gods goodness to thee, and yet withal grieved and sorrowful for thy unkind dealing with him? These are certain evidences of the life of grace in thee. You may find many affected and comforted with the Word, as Herod was; but if this joy were of God, it would not vanish away like smoke, but would administer so much the more sorrow and mourning for sin; though a Christians joy may suddenly vanish, yet it always leaves behind an inward grieving for sin, to keep possession for it.

Wouldst thou know whether thou hast life or no? Why, hast thou found thy heart affected with joy for Gods goodnesse to thee, and yet withall grieved and sorrowfull for thy unkinde dealing with him? These are certain evidences of the life of grace in thee. You may find many affected and comforted with the Word, as Herod was; but if this joy were of God, it would not vanish away like smoak, but would administer so much the more sorrow and mourning for sin; though a Christians joy may suddenly vanish, yet it alwayes leaves behinde an inward grieving for sin, to keep possession for it.

2 How do you find your hearts affected to Gods worship? Do you find your hearts generally unwilling to pray or hear? This is an ill sign. But if you find your hearts willing, and the more willing, the more careful withal. In this case there is life. But if a man have fear without joy, or joy without fear, the heart is not in a good temper.

2 How do you finde your hearts affected to Gods worship? Do you finde your hearts generally unwilling to pray or hear? This is an ill signe. But if you finde your hearts willing, and the more willing, the more carefull withall. In this case there is life. But if a man have fear without joy, or joy without fear, the heart is not in a good temper.

3. How dost thou find thy heart in tribulation? Dost thou find no consolation supporting thee? This is an ill sign. But if thou findest with David, in the multitude of thy troubled thoughts, Gods comforts sustain thy soul, Psal. 94.18. in this case thou hast life.

3. How dost thou finde thy heart in tribulation? Dost thou finde no consolation supporting thee? This is an ill signe. But if thou findest with David, in the multitude of thy troubled thoughts, Gods comforts sustain thy soul, Psal. 94.18. in this case thou hast life.

4. Observe your carriages, Do you bear patiently with bad men, and yet not so patiently as to bear with evil? Patience and zeal must go together.

4. Observe your carriages, Doe you bear patiently with bad men, and yet not so patiently as to bear with evill? Patience and zeal must goe together.

5. Are you of a meek, gentle, and flexible temper? Its well. But how are you in Gods cause? Are you there inflexible, and immovable, so that you will not abate an hose in Gods cause? Why, both these are a life of grace.

5. Are you of a meek, gentle, and flexible temper? Its well. But how are you in Gods cause? Are you there inflexible, and immovable, so that you will not abate an hoose in Gods cause? Why, both these are a life of grace.

6. Thou sayest thou art modest, and thinkest meanly of thy self; I, but how is this grace coupled? for God sends them two and two together, as he did his Disciples, to balance one another. Hast thou withal a lofty spirit in the ways of God, an heart lift up to heavenly things? Why, such a spirit hath life. The most modest should be most magnanimous.

6. Thou sayst thou art modest, and thinkest meanly of thy selfe; I, but how is this grace coupled? for God sends them two and two together, as he did his Disciples, to ballance one another. Hast thou withall a lofty spirit in the wayes of God, an heart lift up to heavenly things? Why, such a spirit hath life. The most modest should be most magnanimous.

7. Look at worldly business, Canst thou be diligent in thy calling? Why, this God requires. But how stands thy heart? Art thou busy in the world, and yet thy heart dead to the world? This is a sign of true spiritual life.

7. Look at worldly businesse, Canst thou be diligent in thy calling? Why, this God requires. But how stands thy heart? Art thou busie in the world, and yet thy heart dead to the world? This is a signe of true spirituall life.

8. If we find our hearts so abounding in love, that like fire it thaws our cold frozen affections; and again, like water, can cool our hot passionate spirits; why, this love is a fruit of faith, and a sign of life; its a sign our sins are forgiven us, if we have hearts forgiving others.

8. If we finde our hearts so abounding in love, that like fire it thawes our cold frozen affections; and again, like water, can cool our hot passionate spirits; why, this love is a fruit of faith, and a signe of life; its a signe our sins are forgiven us, if we have hearts forgiving others.

Now we come to the effects of Sanctification, as they are expressed in the life of a Christian, and they are answerable to the effects of natural life. The effects of natural life are principally five.

Now we come to the effects of Sanctification, as they are exprest in the life of a Christian, and they are answerable to the effects of naturall life. The effects of naturall life are principally five.

1. Motion.