Two treatises the first of fear, from Isa. 8, v. 12, 13, and part…

Use the Third.

Vse the Third.

Search and examine your hearts Christians, whether those graces and qualifications to which God hath promised protection in evil times may not be found upon an impartial search in your hearts, amongst which I will single out three principal ones as the proper matters of your self examination, viz. 1. Uprightness of Heart and Way. 2. Humiliation for your own and others sins. 3. Righteousness in doing and meekness in suffering the Will of God.

1. Uprightness and Integrity of heart and way. To this qualification belong many sweet promises of protection, such is that Prov. 2. 7. He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly, Psal. 7. 10. My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart. If your hearts be true to God, these promises shall be truly performed to you, but beware you deceive not your selves in so great a point as this is; thy heart cannot ⟨p. 283⟩be an upright heart, except 1. it be a renewed heart; the Natural heart is always a false heart, 'tis only regeneration that gives the heart a right temper and frame; all the duties and labours in the world can never keep that heart right in its course, which is not first set right for God by a principle of renovation. (2.) We cannot judge our selves upright, except uprightness be the settled frame and standing bent of our hearts, Psal. 119. 112, 117. It is not our integrity in one or two single actions, but in the general course, and complex frame of our lives and ways, that will prove our integrity to God. (3.) Then may we reckon our selves upright, when the dread and awe of God's all-seeing eye keeps our hearts and steps from turning aside to iniquity,