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most forward profession and form of godliness, without the power and truth thereof, that will do it.

Nothing is more common than for persons to be in truth otherwise than they judge. For every man's own spirit, so far as it is sinful, is apt to give a false testimony of itself. David said, he was cut off from God, when he was not, Psa. xxxi. 22. The Laodiceans thought themselves in a good state, when Christ said they were wretched and miserable, Rev. iii. 17.

Now that you may not err in this great point, you must use all good means to have your judgment rightly informed: and then be willing to judge of yourself as you are, and of your peace with God as it is.

I told you, that the holy Scripture must be your guide, in judging what you should be, and what you are; I mean the Scripture rightly understood. Now to attain a right understanding of the Scripture, and ability to judge yourself by it, whether you be in a state of grace, from the knowledge whereof comes peace, look back to chap. viii. sect. iii. adding unto them the following directions.

SECT. 2. RULES FOR A RIGHT JUDGMENT OF OURSELVES.

1. Observe a difference and distinction in true Christians, both in their different manner of calling, and estate after calling. Some are called in infancy, as Samuel, and John the Baptist: some are in middle and old age, as Abraham, and Zaccheus. Some called without sensible terrors of conscience, as those before mentioned. Some with violent heart-ache and anguish, as Paul and the jailor. In some, these terrors abide longer, in some a shorter time. And after conversion, all are not of like growth and strength. Some are babes, weak in judgment and affections; some strong men, strong in grace generally; but strong also in corruption in some particular. Some old men, so well grounded in knowledge, and confirmed in grace, that no lust gets head to prevail in them: also one and the same man may be sometimes in spiritual health