A treatise concerning the Lords Supper

Fourthly, Dost thou grow in the Graces of the Spirit? It may be thou darest not say thou hast more Grace, but this thou findest, thou hast more desires after Grace; that is more ⟨p. 78⟩Grace. Art thou indeed thankful for a little Grace, but yet art reaching after more? Thou prizest one dra•• of Grace above thousands of Gold and Silver; yet it is not a little will serve thy turn; dost thou grow more weary of thy Sin? Dost thou grow more earnest after Christ, and God, and Heaven? Surely growth is a proof of life.

Fifthly, Dost thou work for God, and Christ, and Heaven, and for thy Soul in a spiritual manner? Spiritual Operations do discover spiritual life. Many live a natural life, that will not work; but those that be spiritually alive, be at work, though some more, and some less. Dost thou pray, and labour in thy prayers? Dost thou hear, and take pains with thy heart in hearing? Dost thou do thy work according to those spiritual Rules which God hath given thee in his Word, or wherein thou failest thou art grieved for it? Dost thou work from a spiritual principle of love to God, and holy fear of him? dost thou pray unto him because thou lovest him? and dost thou abstain from sin, and watch and pray against it, because thou wouldest neither offend or grieve him? Hast thou a spiritual end in working while thou livest, that thou mayest glorify & honour God? Though all thy working in this manner deserve nothing from the Lord; neither dost thou thus labour in all thy duties, to rely upon them, and to take thee off from resting upon Christ; yet are they evidences that thou art raised from the death of sin, to ⟨p. 79⟩a life of grace; and having life thou must have food, and God hath prepared it for thee upon his Table, and thou mayest go and feed thereon. This is the first thing that you should enquire after, a• to your state, whether you be spiritually alive.