The touchstone of sincerity, or, The signs of grace and symptoms of hypocrisy opened…The touchstone of sincerity, or, The signs of grace and symptomes of hypocrisie opened…

I remember Basil brings in Satan thus insulting Christ, I have them, I have them: for all thy blood and miracles, thy wooings and beseechings, thy knockings and strivings, I have cozened thee of them at the very gates of Heaven: for all their illuminations, and tasting of the powers of the World to come; I have shipwrecked them in the very mouth of the haven.

I remember Basil brings in Satan thus insulting Christ, I have them, I have them: for all thy blood and miracles, thy wooings and beseechings, thy knockings and strivings, I have couzened thee of them at the very gates of Heaven: for all their illuminations, and tasting of the powers of the World to come; I have shipwrackt them in the very mouth of the haven.

3. Thirdly, The common works found in unregenerate souls, deceive many, who cannot distinguish them from the special works ⟨p. 22⟩of the spirit in Gods Elect: see that startlin•• Scripture, Heb. 6. 4. where you find among the common operations of the Spirit upon Apostates, illumination, which gives perspicuity to their minds in discerning spiritual truths, and that frequently with more distinctness and depth of Judgment, thansom•• gracious souls attain unto; besides, it is the matter out of which many rare and excellent gifts are formed in admirable variety▪ which are singularly useful to others as they are exercised in expounding the Scriptures […] de•ending the truths of Christ by solid arguments, preaching, praying, &c. and make the subject of them renowned and honoured in the Church of God; whilst mean time, they are dazzled with their own splendour, and fatally ruined by them.

3. Thirdly, The common works found in unregenerate souls, deceive many, who cannot distinguish them from the special works