A39695:419
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 7 › Section 2
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.
4. Fourthly, The spirituality of our duties tries the sincerity of our graces: an unregenerate heart is carnal, whilst engaged in duties that are spiritual. Some men deceive themselves in thinking they are spiritual men, because their employment and calling ⟨p. 120⟩is about spiritual things, Hosea 9. 7. this indeed gives them the denomination, but not the frame of spiritual men: and others judge themselves spiritual persons, because they frequently perform and attend upon spiritual duties: but alas the heart and state may be carnal notwithstanding all this. O my friends, it is not enough that the object of your duties is spiritual, that they respect an holy God; nor that the matter be spiritual, that you be conversant about holy things; but the frame of your heart must be spiritual, an heavenly temper of soul is necessary, and what are the most heavenly duties without it?
4. Fourthly, The spirituality of our duties tryes the sincerity of our graces: an unregenerate heart is carnal, whilest engaged in duties that are spiritual. Some men deceive themselves in thinking they are spiritual men, because their imployment and calling ⟨p. 120⟩is about spiritual things, Hosea 9. 7. this indeed gives them the denomination, but not the frame of spiritual men: and others judge themselves spiritual persons, because they frequently perform and attend upon spiritual duties: but alas the heart and state may be carnal notwithstanding all this. O my friends, it is not enough that the object of your duties is spiritual, that they respect an holy God; nor that the matter be spiritual, that you be conversant about holy things; but the frame of your heart must be spiritual, an heavenly temper of soul is necessary, and what are the most heavenly duties without it?
The end and design you aim at must be spiritual, the enjoyment of God, and a growing conformity to him in holiness; else, multiply duties as the sand on the sea shore, & they all will not amount to one evidence of your sincerity. God is my witness whom I serve with my spirit, saith the Apostles, Rom 1. 9. he seems to appeal to God in this matter. I serve God in my spirit, and God knows that I do so. I dare appeal to him that it is so: he knows that my heart is with him, or would be with him in my duties: the arms of my faith do either sensibly grasp, or are stretched out towards him in my duties. O how little avour do gracious hearts find in the most excellent duties, if