The Christian's great interest. Or, A short treatise, divided into two parts. The first…

The Second thing which doth darken men about their interest in Christ, is. There ⟨p. 17⟩is one thing or other, wherein their Hea• in some respect doth Condemn them, as dealing deceitful and guilefully with God. It is not to be expected, that these can come to clearness about their interest, whose Heart doth Condemn them for keeping up some known Transgression against the Lord, which they will not let go, neither are using the means which they know to be appointed by God for delivering them from it; neither can these come to clearness, who know some positive Duty, Commanded them in their stations, which they deceitfully shift and shun, not closing cheerfully with it, or not willing to be led into it. These are also in some respects, Condemned of their own hearts, as the former sort; and in that case it is difficult to come to a distinct knowledge of their State, 1 Joh. 3.21. It is supposed there, that a Self-condemning Heart maketh void a mans Confidence proportionally before God. I do not deny but that men may, on good grounds, plead an Interest in Christ, in the case of prevailing iniquity, Psal. 65.3. Rom. 7.23, 25. But it is hard to be attained, if at all attainable, when the Heart is dealing deceitfully, ⟨image ?⟩and entertaining known guile in a particular: Therefore l•t people clear themselves of the particular which they know too well. It is the thing which doth meet them, m•ing their confidence and access in all the• approaches unto God: See Jud. 10.10, 13. The idolatries o• the people are cast up to them by the Lord, and their suit rejected thereupon. That which draweth away the Hea• first in the Morning and last at Nig• like an Oven hea•ed at Night, and […] burneth as a flaming fire in the Morning,