A39695:102
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…
The touchstone of sincerity, or, The signs of grace and symptoms of hypocrisy opened in a practical treatise upon Revelations III 17, 18 being the second part of the Saint indeed / by John Flavell ...The touchstone of sincerity, or, The signs of grace and symptomes of hypocrisie opened in a practical treatise upon Revelations III 17, 18 being the second part of the Saint indeed / by John Flavell ...
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1698
Title page typeset from the transcription.
THE Touchstone of Sincerity: OR, THE SIGNS Of GRACE, AND Symptoms o… › Chapter 2 › Section 3
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
There you find also Tasting as well as enlightening. So that they seem to abound not only in knowledge, but in sense also, (i. e.) i• some kind of experience of what they know; for experience is the bringing of things to the Test of spiritual sense. They do tast•• or experience the good that comes by the promises of the word, and discoveries of heaven and glory; though they feel not experimentally the transforming efficacy of these things upon their own souls.
Now that illumination furnishing them with excellent gifts (as before was noted) ⟨p. 23⟩enabling them to Assent to Gospel truth's, which the Scripture calls faith, Acts 8. 12. and working in them conviction of sin, 1 Sam. 15. 24. reformation of life, 2 Pet. 2. 2•. and touching their affections also with transient joy in the discovery of those truth•.
And this Taste which comes so near to the experience which the sanctified soul enjoys: these things seem to put their condition beyond all controversy, and lay a foundation for their ill built confidence; nothing is more apt to beget and nourish such a Confidence than the meltings and workings of our affections about spiritual things; for as a grave Divine hath well observed,1