The defects of preachers reproved in a sermon preached at Northampton, May 19th. 1723

5. If any do give false Signs of godliness, that is not good Preaching. Signs of Grace are of ⟨p. 17⟩two sorts: Some are Probable, and they must be spoken of only as Probable; a Score of them may make the thing more Probable, but don't make it Certain: Probabilities make no Demonstration; Probable Signs are not Conclusive. There are two Errors in laying down Signs; one is when those things that may flow from Common Principles, as natural Temper, natural Conscience, fear of Hell, false Imaginations, are given as sure Signs of Grace: But those things that may flow from Common Principles, don't truly distinguish between Saints & Hypocrites; As a good Conversation, savoury Discourse, zeal against Sin, strong religious Affections, sorrow for Sin, quietness under Afflictions, delight in Ordinances, suffering for Religion, &c. From such loose Signs People are in danger to take up a false Persuasion of their godliness. Such Signs are full of Delusion; and many men do bless themselves who are in a miserable Condition. Such probable Signs may be, where there be certain Signs of the contrary. Men are apt to flatter themselves, and when they hear such Signs, they are strengthened in their carnal Confidence. There is no infallible Sign of Grace, but Grace. Grace is known only by intuition: All the External Effects of Grace may flow from other Causes. Another Error is ⟨p. 18⟩when men are too strict in their Signs; As when they give that as a Sign, that there is a constant care to glorify GOD, and a continual living upon JESUS CHRIST, and a constant watchfulness against the workings of Corruption. There is no godly man but has at times ill frames of spirit: David and Jonah and Peter had so. When David committed Adultery, he had not a due care to glorify God; nor Jonah when he was in a Fret, nor the Psalmist when he was as a Beast before God, nor Paul when he was led into Captivity by the law of sin that was in his Members. There is no godly man that can comfort himself with such Signs as these: It is well if godly men do see now and then the workings of a spirit of Grace: Grace is many times under Hatches and invisible.

5. If any do give false Signs of godliness, that is not good Preaching. Signs of Grace are of ⟨p. 17⟩