The blessedness of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /The blessednesse of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /

He therefore loses all his labour, and reward, and shows himself a vain trifler in the matters of Religion, that makes not this the scope and mark of his Christian profession, and practice, and herein he can do nothing without a constant self-inspection. ⟨p. 251⟩As it therefore highly concerns, it well becomes a Christian under the Gospel, to be in a continual observation, and study of himself; that he may know to what purpose he is a Christian; and take notice what (or whether any) good impressions be yet made upon his Spirit; whether he gain any thing by his Religion. And if a man enter upon an enquiry into himself; what more important question can he put then this; In what posture am I as to my last and chief end? how is my Spirit framed towards it? This is the intendment and business of the Gospel, To fit souls for blessedness: and therefore if I would enquire, what am I the better for the Gospel? this is the sense and meaning of that very question, is my soul wrought by it to any better disposition for blessedness? Upon which the resolution of this depends; am I ever likely to enjoy it, yea or no? That which may make any heart, not deplorably stupid, shake, and tremble; that such a thing should be drawn into question; but the case, with the most, requires it, and it must be so. 'Tis that therefore, I would fain here, awaken souls to, and assist them in; that is, propound something (in pursuance of the present direction) which might both awaken them to move this great question, and help them in discussing it. Both which will be done in showing the importance of this latter ultimate question in it self, and then the subserviency of the former subordinate one, towards the deciding it. These two things therefore I shall a little stay upon.

He therefore loses all his labour, and reward, and shews himself a vain trifler in the matters of Religion, that makes not this the scope and mark of his Christian profession, and practice, and herein he can do nothing without a constant self-inspection. ⟨p. 251⟩As it therefore highly concerns, it well becomes a Christian under the Gospel, to be in a continual observation, and study of himself; that he may know to what purpose he is a Christian; and take notice what (or whether any) good impressions be yet made upon his Spirit; whether he gain any thing by his Religion. And if a man enter upon an enquirie into himself; what more important question can he put then this; In what posture am I as to my last and chief end? how is my Spirit framed towards it? This is the intendment and business of the Gospel, To fit souls for blessedness: and therefore if I would enquire, what am I the better for the Gospel? this is the sense and meaning of that very question, is my soul wrought by it to any better disposition for blessedness? Upon which the resolution of this depends; am I ever likely to enjoy it, yea or no? That which may make any heart, not deplorably stupid, shake, and tremble; that such a thing should be drawn into question; but the case, with the most, requires it, and it must be so. 'Tis that therefore, I would fain here, awaken souls to, and assist them in; that is, propound something (in pursuance of the present direction) which might both awaken them to move this great question, and help them in discussing it. Both which will be done in shewing the importance of this latter ultimate question in it self, and then the subserviencie of the former subordinate one, towards the deciding it. These two things therefore I shall a little stay upon.