1. Doubtings, for that is contrary to the life of grace. 2. It casts away all presumption, and self-dependence, perfect love casts out fear, and patience strives against frowardness, and every grace against its contrary, so that he may grow up to full holiness; the life of grace casts out the life of the world, so much of the world as is cumbersome to his spirit, so much a Christian lays down.

1. Doubtings, for that is contrary to the life of grace. 2. It casts away all presumption, and selfe-dependance, perfect love casts out fear, and patience strives against frowardnesse, and every grace against its contrary, so that he may grow up to full holinesse; the life of grace casts out the life of the world, so much of the world as is cumbersome to his spirit, so much a Christian lays down.

A fifth act of life is the begetting of his kind: nature grows up to this ability, though at first it be but weak; so grace no sooner moves, or grows, or feeds in any measure, but it hath a mind to beget others; as soon as ever the woman of Samaria began to be acquainted with Christ, she ran to all her neighbours, and tells them she had met with one that told her all that ever she had done, Is not this the Christ? John 4.29. This is the nature of spiritual life, as soon as they are well begot themselves, they are ready to beget others. ⟨p. 404⟩Indeed, a Christian may hide himself a while, but as soon as he is assured of life himself, he propagates the same to others, John 1.41, to 46. When one Disciple was called, he goes and calls another to come and see. Psal. 51.10, 11, 12, 13. David professeth that if God will but assure him of mercy, and establish him therein, then he will teach others Gods ways, and sinners shall be converted unto him, he that is once converted himself, his care is to convert others to God.

A fifth act of life is the begetting of his kind: nature grows up to this ability, though at first it be but weak; so grace no sooner moves, or grows, or feeds in any measure, but it hath a minde to beget others; as soon as ever the woman of Samaria began to be acquainted with Christ, she ran to all her neighbors, and tells them she had met with one that told her all that ever she had done, Is not this the Christ? John 4.29. This is the nature of spirituall life, as soon as they are well begot themselves, they are ready to beget others. ⟨p. 404⟩Indeed, a Christian may hide himselfe a while, but as soon as he is assured of life himselfe, he propagates the same to others, John 1.41, to 46. When one Disciple was called, he goes and calls another to come and see. Psal. 51.10, 11, 12, 13. David professeth that if God will but assure him of mercy, and establish him therein, then he will teach others Gods ways, and sinners shall be converted unto him, he that is once converted himselfe, his care is to convert others to God.

Try your selves by these signs.

Try your selves by these signes.

3. This life may be discerned by the properties of it, by finding of which we may discern of our spiritual life. And there are three principal properties of life.

3. This life may be discerned by the properties of it, by finding of which we may discern of our spirituall life. And there are three principall properties of life.

1. Where ever life is, there is some warmth. When Elisha had stretched himself over the dead child, the flesh of the dead child began to wax warm, a sign of life, 2 Kings 4.34. So the presence of the Spirit united to the soul of man is the cause of all spiritual heat. Rom. 12.11. Fervent in spirit. Therefore the Spirit is compared to fire, Mat. 3.11. 1 Thes. 5.19. Quench not the Spirit. A sign that the Spirit is of a fervent nature. So 2 Tim. 1.6. I put thee in remembrance to blow up the graces of Gods Spirit. A Metaphor taken from blowing up the fire with bellows; all which imply, that the Spirit of Christ communicated to Christians is a fervent spirit. Where there is no warmth, there is no life. If our spirit begin to wax warm, its a sign of spiritual life; as the two Disciples that went to Emmaus said, (Luke 22.32.) Did not our hearts burn within us whilst he spake those things? Implying the Word hath a power to quicken, and warm, and heat the spirit of a Christian. This same warmth and heat is expressed divers ways.

1. Where ever life is, there is some warmth. When Elisha had stretched himselfe over the dead childe, the flesh of the dead childe began to wax warm, a signe of life, 2 Kings 4.34. So the presence of the Spirit united to the soul of man is the cause of all spiritual heat. Rom. 12.11. Fervent in spirit. Therefore the Spirit is compared to fire, Mat. 3.11. 1 Thes. 5.19. Quench not the Spirit. A signe that the Spirit is of a fervent nature. So

1. The very knowledge of a Christian is warm, whereas in all others the knowledge is cold, and merely speculative, without any life or power. There is a zeal according to knowledge, and there is a knowledge according to zeal. The zeal that is not according to knowledge is a rash vain zeal, Rom. 10.2. So, it is a cold empty knowledge that hath not zeal with it. John was a burning and a shining light, showing every several condition what they should do, but he burnt up the hypocrisy and lusts of the body, and inflamed their affections with zeal and warmth, as Herod heard him gladly. Where there is truth of light and knowledge, there is burning. The knowledge of a Christian makes him fruitful in a Christian course, 2 Pet. 1.8. So that whatever he knows either necessary or expedient for him to do, he will do it, and he will cause others to do their duties that belong unto him; such is the heat of his spirit, that he will not suffer his Brother to lie in sin, Lev. 19.17. Now another man knows many things, but doth them not, nor thinks he is bound to do them; but a Christians knowledge is of that nature that it will not suffer him or his Brother to lie in any sin. True Christians are thought oft-times to be more busy then needs.

1. The very knowledge of a Christian is warm, whereas in all others the knowledge is cold, and meerly speculative, without any life or power. There is a zeal according to knowledge, and there is a knowledge according to zeal. The zeal that is not according to knowledge is a rash vaine zeal, Rom. 10.2. So, it is a cold empty knowledge that hath not zeal with it. John was a burning and a shining light, shewing every severall condition what they should doe, but he burnt up the hypocrisie and lusts of the body, and inflamed their affections with zeal and warmth, as Herod heard him gladly. Where there is truth of light and knowledge, there is burning. The knowledge of a Christian makes him fruitfull in a Christian course, 2 Pet. 1.8. So that whatever he knows either necessary or expedient for him to doe, he will doe it, and he will cause others to doe their duties that belong unto him; such is the heat of his spirit, that he will not suffer his Brother to lie in sin,

2. There is warmth in our breath; as long as there is life in us there is breath, and that breath is warm; so if there be any spiritual life, there is always some warm breathing, some warmth in his breathing towards God, there is always some warmth in his prayers, the prayers of hypocrites are but cold, and empty, and vanish away, but there is always some breath of life in a good mans prayers, even then when we know not what to pray for, or how to pray, yet then there is always something in him that expresseth warmth, his very sighings and groans come from some kind of heat and life, Rom. 8.16.

2. There is warmth in our breath; as long as there is life in us there is breath, and that breath is warm; so if there be any spirituall life, there is alwayes some warm breathing, some warmth in his breathing towards God, there is alwayes some warmth in his prayers, the prayers of hypocrites are but cold, and empty, and vanish away, but there is alwayes some breath of life in a good mans prayers, even then when we know not what to pray for, or how to pray, yet then there is alwayes something in him that expresseth warmth, his very sighings and groans come from some kinde of heat and life, Rom. 8.16.

2. As their breathing towards God is warm, so they breath warmth one towards another, so that in their conference, if they speak of the things ⟨p. 405⟩of the Word, they do not speak slightly, and overly without any affection, but they speak of them with reverence, and fear, and love, and affection.

2. As their breathing towards God is warm, so they breath warmth one towards another, so that in their conference, if they speak of the things ⟨p. 405⟩of the Word, they doe not speak slightly, and overly without any affection, but they speak of them with reverence, and fear, and love, and affection.

3. There is that kind of warmth in him, as that thereby he doth not only affect the Word, but he is able to digest it in some measure; there is no life, but there is some power to digest something, if not strong meat, Psal. 119.20. My soul breaketh for the longing it hath to thy judgements. So Psal. 42. My soul panteth after thee. This very panting and breathing of the soul after God, so unites the soul unto God, that thereby he digests something that enables him to walk before God in the land of the living, whereas an hypocrite is hopeless to any good.

3. There is that kinde of warmth in him, as that thereby he doth not onely affect the Word, but he is able to digest it in some measure; there is no life, but there is some power to digest something, if not strong meat, Psal. 119.20. My soul breaketh for the longing it hath to thy judgements. So Psal. 42. My soul panteth after thee. This very panting and breathing of the soul after God, so unites the soul unto God, that thereby he digests something that inables him to walk before God in the land of the living, whereas an hypocrite is hopelesse to any good.

4. If things be warm, the more they lye together the more warmth and heat; cold logs laid together heat not one another, but two or three brands put together are enough to kindle an heap of wood: so take a Christian that is very cold, and almost benumbed, yet put him to two or three more, and one word kindles another, and their spirits are more and more inflamed, more fit to pray, and fitter to admonish, and comfort, and help forward one another, 1 Pet. 4.8. Fervent love among Brethren so kindles one another that they are inflamed to any good offices; but when Christians are disjointed they lose all their heat, as when a man means to put out the fire, he lays one brand from another, a sign he means to go to bed and sleep; so when Satan would put out the life and heat of grace in a Family or Town, he disjoints Christians, and so they fall into security, and grow dead in sins and trespasses, all their heat is quite extinguished. Therefore the Apostle exhorts us not to forsake the assembling of our selves together, as the manner of some is, Heb. 10.25. 2 Pet. 1.21. See that ye love one another, with pure hearts fervently.

4. If things be warm, the more they lye together the more warmth and heat; cold logs laid together heat not one another, but two or three brands put together are enough to kindle an heap of wood: so take a Christian that is very cold, and almost benummed, yet put him to two or three more, and one word kindles another, and their spirits are more and more inflamed, more fit to pray, and fitter to admonish, and comfort, and help forward one another, 1 Pet. 4.8. Fervent love among Brethren so kindles one another that they are inflamed to any good offices; but when Christians are disjoynted they lose all their heat, as when a man means to put out the fire, he layes one brand from another, a signe he means to goe to bed and sleep; so when Satan would put out the life and heat of grace in a Family or Town, he disjoynts Christians, and so they fall into security, and grow dead in sins and trespasses, all their heat is quite extinguished. Therefore the Apostle exhorts us not to forsake the assembling of our selves together, as the manner of some is,

Obj. If this heat be always found where life is, how comes it to pass that the hearts of Christians are so cold and dead? How comes a Christian to be so unprofitable if he digest the Word? Do not Christians meet and afford little warmth and help one to another? Luke 24.32. The two disciples hearts burned when Christ talked with them, a sign before he came and chafed them up, they were cold and dead-hearted.

Obj. If this heat be alwayes found where life is, how comes it to passe that the hearts of Christians are so cold and dead? How comes a Christian to be so unprofitable if he digest the Word? Doe not Christians meet and afford little warmth and help one to another? Luke 24.32. The two disciples hearts burned when Christ talked with them, a signe before he came and chafed them up, they were cold and dead-hearted.

Answ. True Christians oft-times find a marvellous coldness and benumbedness of heart, that they find little warmth in their breathing, in their prayers or conferences, and this comes partly from want of supply of new fuel, when they walk in their own strength, without looking up to Christ for new supply; and partly by pouring cold water upon it, that is, some noisome lusts that put out the grace of God, or else the use of outward comforts with worldly hearts, these cast cold water on the fire, as the fire is put out either by withdrawing the fuel, or by casting water on it: But yet though this be their fault, yet even then when they want chafing and heat, there is some striving in them, which argues life, so much life as in them, so much heat. As for those two Disciples that went to Emmaus, though their hearts burned whilst Christ spake, yet before Christ came, they were talking of Christ, and of his sufferings, which made them sad, then Christ comes and puts life, O fools and slow of heart to believe; This blew up the sparks in them. So much as a Christian hath lost of his heat, so much of his life, if his warmth be smothered his life is smothered.

Answ. True Christians oft-times finde a marvellous coldnesse and benummednesse of heart, that they finde little warmth in their breathing, in their prayers or conferences, and this comes partly from want of supply of new fuell, when they walk in their own strength, without looking up to Christ for new supply; and partly by pouring cold water upon it, that is, some noysome lusts that put out the grace of God, or else the use of outward comforts with wordly hearts, these cast cold water on the fire, as the fire is put out either by withdrawing the fuell, or by casting water on it: But yet though this be their fault, yet even then when they want chafing and heat, there is some striving in them, which argues life, so much life as in them, so much heat. As for those two Disciples that went to Emaus, though their hearts burned whilest Christ spake, yet before Christ came, they were talking of Christ, and of his sufferings, which made them sad, then Christ comes and puts life, O fools and slow of heart to believe; This blew up the sparks in them. So much as a Christian hath lost of his heat, so much of his life, if his warmth be smothered his life is smothered.

Now this warmth is sometimes expressed in sad looks, and pantings, and deep sighs, and groanings and mourning for his forlorn estate, and surely there is life in that, for in grief the heat runs to the heart. But worse then this, a Christian sometimes vanisheth away in much frothy emptiness, outwardly rejoicing in worldly comforts, when there is no life within. Peter when he denied his Master, his heart was filled with grief and sorrow, and he ⟨p. 406⟩went out and wept bitterly. But what say you to David, when he had committed adultery, how did he go on from one sin to another? He can make Uriah drunk, and then kill him, and then make no matter of it, he is careless in all this, as if he had quite lost all life and affection to God, there was not the least beating of the pulse of a Christian, such a [Greek or Hebrew], that a man that knew him not before, might have written in his forehead, a man forsaken of God, without any life of grace in him, Where now was Davids life? None so far gone as he; 'tis a question whether he prayed or no all this while; as some Christians have so lost themselves, as for three years together they have not prayed at all, as doubting of any acceptance, because they were so sinful, yet there is some habit of grace, but hardly one act of life; yet still this holds true, so much warmth so much life, as by the Almighty power of God, there may be fire and yet no heat; as the fiery furnace, though made seven times hotter then ordinary, yet God so restrained the act, that it did not so much as singe the garments of the three children that were cast into it, Dan. 3. So è contra, there is a marvellous hellish power in sin, so as it will suspend all the acts of grace, so as a Christian may express no acts of grace, but lye as a man in a deep swoon, without life and motion, that can be discerned, and yet this you shall find in a Christian at such times, a listlessness of his heart to sin, that he cannot break out into sin with all his strength and power as he did in his natural condition; and the ground is this, because there is still flesh and spirit in him, so that as the spirit cannot do what good it would, so the flesh cannot do that evil it would, Gal. 5.17. And when a Christian is most lively, yet there is still some faintness and weakness in him;

Now this warmth is sometimes exprest in sad looks, and pantings, and deep sighs, and groanings and mourning for his forlorn estate, and surely there is life in that, for in griefe the heat runs to the heart. But worse then this, a Christian sometimes vanisheth away in much frothy emptynesse, outwardly rejoycing in worldly comforts, when there is no life within. Peter when he denyed his Master, his heart was fill'd with griefe and sorrow, and he

so è contra, when grace is most weak and corruption most strong, yet he cannot commit sin with all his strength as formerly he hath done, but he goes about sin unwillingly, not with the full sway that he was wont to do, he goes listlessly about it.

so è contra, when grace is most weak and corruption most strong, yet he cannot commit sin with all his strength as formerly he hath done, but he goes about sin unwillingly, not with the full sway that he was wont to doe, he goes listlesly about it.

Try your selves therefore by these signs, if thou hast Christ, thou hast life? if life, thou hast warmth and heat; look to thy knowledge, doth it puff thee up, and not edify? Dost thou magnify thy self by it? If it be lively knowledge, it is joined with zeal, as Christ revealed himself to the Church of Thyatira, Rev. 2.18. Thus saith the Son of God, whose eyes are like flames of fire, writing to the Church of Thyatira that was warm in love, and growing up therein, he revealed himself according to the state of the Church, as having eyes like flames of fire, as that Church had zeal with her light; so that if thou hast a true knowledge, thy eyes are like flames of fire, what thou knowest thou dost with zeal and fervency of spirit, as Peter and John said, We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard; that is, which we have certain knowledge of, Acts 4.20. See Jer. 20.9.

Try your selves therefore by these signes, if thou hast Christ, thou hast life? if life, thou hast warmth and heat; look to thy knowledge, doth it puffe thee up, and not edifie? Dost thou magnifie thy selfe by it? If it be lively knowledge, it is joyned with zeal, as Christ revealed himselfe to the Church of Thyatira, Rev. 2.18. Thus saith the Son of God, whose eyes are like flames of fire, writing to the Church of Thyatira that was warm in love, and growing up therein, he revealed himselfe according to the state of the Church, as having eyes like flames of fire, as that Church had zeal with her light; so that if thou hast a true knowledge, thy eyes are like flames of fire, what thou knowest thou dost with zeal and fervency of spirit, as Peter and John said, We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard; that is, which we have certain knowledge of, Acts 4.20. See Jer. 20.9.