A39695:200
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 4 › Section 1
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.
2. Secondly, The graces of men are brought to the test as well as their opinions. Trial will be made of their hearts, as well as of their heads; and upon this trial the everlasting safety & happiness of the person depends: if a mans opinions be some of them found hay or stubble, yet so long as he holds the head, & is right in the foundation, he may be saved; but if a mans supposed graces be found so, all the world cannot save him: there is no way of escape if he finally deceive himself herein: and of this trial of Graces my text speaks: Sincere Grace is Gold tried by fire.
2. Secondly, The graces of men are brought to the test as well as their opinions. Tryal will be made of their hearts, as well as of their heads; and upon this tryal the everlasting safety & happiness of the person depends: if a mans opinions be some of them found hay or stubble, yet so long as he holds the head, & is right in the foundation, he may be saved; but if a mans supposed graces be found so, all the world cannot save him: there is no way of escape if he finally deceive himself herein: and of this tryal of Graces my text speaks: Sincere Grace is Gold tryed by fire.
There is a twofold trial of grace, Active, and Passive.
There is a twofold tryal of grace, Active, and Passive.
First, an Active trial of it, in which we try it our selves, 2 Cor. 13 5▪ Examine your selves, prove your selves: (i. e.) measure your hearts, duties and graces by the rule of the word; see how they answer to that rule, bring your hearts and the word together by solemn self-examination: confer with your reins, and commune with your own hearts.