The Christians great interest

Having premised these things, it now followeth, that we give some marks by which a man may know if he be savingly in Covenant with God, and hath a special interest in Christ, so as he may warrantably lay claim to Gods favour and salvation. We shall only pitch upon two great and principal marks, not willing to trouble people with many. And before we fall upon these, we will speak of a preparatory work of the Law, whereof the Lord doth ordinarily make use, to prepare his own ⟨p. 13⟩way in mens souls. This may have its own weight, as a mark, with some persons. It is called the work of the Law, or, the work of humiliation. It hath some proportion to that spirit of bondage, Rom. 8. 15. and doth now under the New Testament answer unto it, and usually leadeth on to the Spirit of adoption. Only here let it be remembered, 1. That we are not to speak of this preparatory work of the Law, as a negative mark of true interest in Christ, as if none might lay claim to Gods favour, who hath not had this preparatory work in the several steps of it, as we are to speak of it; for, as we shall hear, the Lord doth not always keep that path with men. 2. The great reason why we speak of it, is, because the Lord dealeth with many (whom he doth effectually call) by some such preparatory work. And to those, who have been so dealt with, it may prove strengthening, and will confirm them in laying the more weight on the marks which follow. 3. It may help to encourage others, who are under such bondage of spirit, as a good prognostic of a gracious work to follow: for as we shall circumstantiate it, it will be rarely found to miscarry, and fail of a gracious issue. 4. Where God useth such a preparatory work, he doth not keep one way or measure in it, as we shall hear.

Having premised these things, it now followeth, that we give some marks by which a man may know if he be savingly in Covenant with God, and hath a special interest in Christ, so as he may warrantably lay claim to Gods favour and salvation. We shall only pitch upon two great and principal marks, not willing to trouble people with many. And before we fall upon these, we will speak of a preparatory work of the Law, whereof the Lord doth ordinarily make use, to prepare his own ⟨p. 13⟩way in mens souls. This may have its own weight, as a mark, with some persons. It is called the work of the Law, or, the work of humiliation. It hath some proportion to that spirit of bondage,