Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses

CASE V. The attainments of hypocrites and apostates are a terror to me, and come like a shaking sto•• on me, when I am about to conclude from the marks of grace which I seem to find in myself, that I […] the state of grace. Ans. These things should indeed stir us up […] a most serious and impartial examination of ourselves; but ought not to keep us in a continued suspense as to our state. Sirs, ye see the outside of hypocrites, their duties, their gifts, their tears, &c. but ye see not their inside; ye do not discern their hearts, the bias of their spirits. Upon what ye see of them, ye found a judgment of charity, as to their state; and ye do well to judge charitably in such a case, because ye cannot know the secret springs of their actings: But ye are speaking, and ought to have a judgment of certainty, as to your own state; and therefore are to look in to that part of religion, which none in the world but yourselves can discern in you; and which ye can as little see in others. An hypocrite's religion may appear far greater than that of a sincere soul: but, that which makes the greatest figure in the eyes of men, is often least worth before God. I would rather utter one of these groans the Apostle speaks of, Rom. viii. 26. than shed Esau's tears, have Balaam's prophetic spirit, or the joy of the stony-ground hearers. The fire that shall try every man's work, will try, not of what bulk it is, but of what sort it is, 1 Cor. iii. 13. Now, ye may know what bulk of religion another has: and what tho' it be more bulky than your own? God doth not regard that: Why then do you make such a matter of it? It is impossible for you, without divine revelation, certainly to know of what sort another man's ⟨p. 155⟩religion is: but ye may certainly know what sort your own is of, without extraordinary revelation; otherwise the Apostle would not exhort the saints to give diligence to make their calling and election sure, 2 Pet i. 10. Therefore, the attainments of hypocrites and apostates should not disturb you in your serious inquiry into your own state. But I'll tell you two things wherein the meanest saints go beyond the most refined hypocrites. (1) In denying themselves, renouncing all confidence in themselves, and their own works, acquiescing in, being well-pleased with, and venturing their souls upon God's plan of salvation through' Jesus Christ,