N34404:688
Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses
Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses. / By Mr. Thomas Boston, late Minister of the Gospel at Etterick.
United States : s.n. Printed for the booksellers., M,DCC,LXXXVII. 1787
State 4 › Part 2 › Doctrine 2: DOCTRINE II. The State of the Godly in Death, is a hopeful State.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Fourthly, Be diligent in gathering and laying up evidences of your title to heaven, for your support and comfort at the hour of death. The neglect hereof mars the joy and consolation which some Christians might otherwise have at their death. Wherefore examine yourselves frequently, as to your spiritual state; that evidences, which lie hid and unobserved, may be brought to light and taken notice of. And if you would manage this work successfully, make solemn serious work of it. Set apart some time for it. And, after earnest prayer to God, through Jesus Christ, for the enlightening influences of the Holy Spirit, whereby ye may be enabled to understand his own word, to discern his own work in your souls; sist yourselves before the tribunal of your consciences, that ye may judge yourselves in this weighty matter.
Fourthly, Be diligent in gathering and laying up evidences of your title to heaven, for your support and comfort at the hour of death. The neglect hereof mars the joy and consolation which some Christians might otherwise have at their death. Wherefore examine yourselves frequently, as to your spiritual state; that evidences, which ly hid and unobserved, may be brought to light and taken notice of. And if you would manage this work successfully, make solemn serious work of it. Set apart some time for it. And, after earnest prayer to God, through Jesus Christ, for the enlightning influences of the Holy Spirit, whereby ye may be enabled to understand his own word, to discern his own work in your souls; sist yourselves before the tribunal of your consciences, that ye may judge yourselves in this weighty matter.
And in the first place, Let the marks of a regenerate state be fixed, from the Lord's word: and have recourse to some particular text for that purpose; such as Prov. viii. 17. "I love them that love me." Compare Luke xiv. 26. "If any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, and wife and children, and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple."