To the Right Worshipful and My Christian Friend Master Valentine Knightly, Esquire, One of Her Majesty's Justices of Peace in Northamptonshire

Good reader it is a thing to be considered, that a man may seem both to himself and to the church of God to be a true professor of the gospel, and yet indeed be none. All professors that be of this sort, are excellently described, (Luke 8:13) in these words: And they which are upon the stony ground are they, which when they shall hear, receive the word with joy: but having no root, believe for a time, and in the time of temptation go away. Where are to be noted three things. First, their faith, in that they are said to believe for a season. Secondly the fruits of that faith, in that they are said to receive the word preached with joy. Thirdly, their unsoundness in that they are compared to stony ground, and in the time of temptation go away.

Concerning their faith, whereas the Spirit of God says, that they do believe these things are to be considered. First, that they have the knowledge of the word of God. Secondly, that they both can and do give assent to the word of God, that it is most true. Thirdly, in more special manner they give assent to the covenant of grace made in Christ, that it is most certain and sure: and they are persuaded in a general and confused manner, that God will verify the same covenant in the members of his church. This is all their faith: which indeed proceeds from the Holy Ghost, but yet it is not sufficient to make them sound professors. For although they do generally believe God's promises, yet herein they deceive themselves, that they never apply and appropriate the same promises to their own souls. An example of this faith we have, (John 2:24) where it is said, that when our Savior Christ came to Jerusalem at the feast of Easter, many believed in his name, and yet he would not commit himself to them, because he knew them all, and what was in them.

To come to the second thing: those professors which are endowed with thus much grace, as to believe in Christ in a confused manner, go yet further: for this their faith, though it be not sufficient to salvation yet it shows itself by certain fruits which it brings forth: for as a tree or a branch of a tree that has no deep rooting, but either is covered with a few molds of soil, or else lies in the water, at the season of the year brings forth leaves and blossoms, and some fruit too, and that for one or two, or more years: so one that is a hearer of the word, may receive the word: and the word as seed, by this general faith may be somewhat rooted in his heart and settled for a season, and may bring forth some fruits in his life perhaps very fair in his own and other men's eyes: yet indeed neither sound, nor lasting, nor substantial. What these fruits are, it may be gathered from these words, where it is said, that they receive the word with joy, when they hear it: for here may be gathered. First, that they do willingly subject themselves to the ministry of the word. Secondly, that they are as forward as any, and as joyful in frequenting sermons. Thirdly, that they reverence the ministers whom they so joyfully hear. Lastly, they condemn them of impiety, which will not be hearers, or be negligent hearers of the word.

Now, of these and such like fruits, this may be added: though they are not sound, yet they are void of that gross kind of hypocrisy. For the minds of those professors are in part enlightened, and their hearts are endowed with such a faith, as may bring forth these fruits for a time: and therefore herein they do not dissemble that faith which they have not: but rather show that which they have. Add to this, that a man being in this estate, may deceive himself; and the most godly in the world, which have the greatest gifts of discerning, how they and their brethren stand before the Lord: like as the fig tree with green leaves deceived our Savior Christ as he was man: for when in his hunger he came to it to have had some fruit he found none.

If this be so, it may be then required, how these unsound professors differ from true professors. I answer, in this they differ, that they have not sound hearts to cling to Christ Jesus forever. Which appears in that they are compared to stony ground. Now, stony grounds mingled with some earth are commonly hot, and therefore have as it were some alacrity and hastiness in them, and the corn as soon as it is cast into this ground, it sprouts out very speedily, but yet the stones will not suffer the corn to be rooted deeply beneath, and therefore when summer comes the blade of the corn withers with roots and all. So it is with these professors: they have in their hearts some good motions of the Holy Ghost, to that which is good: they have a kind of zeal to God's word, they have a liking to good things, and they are as forward as any other for a time, and they do believe. But these good motions and graces are not lasting, but like the flame and flashing of straw and stubble: neither are they sufficient to salvation.

With the true professors it is far otherwise: for they have upright and honest hearts before the Lord (Luke 8:15). And they have faith which works by love (Galatians 5:6). And that Christian man who loves God, whatever shall befall, yea though it were a thousand deaths, yet his heart can never be severed from the Lord and from his Savior Christ: as the spouse speaks to Christ of her own love (Song of Solomon 8:6). Set me as a seal on your heart, as a signet upon your arm: for love is as strong as death: jealousy is as cruel as the grave; the coals thereof are fiery coals and a vehement flame. Much water cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man should give all the substance of his house for love, they would greatly contemn it.

Therefore (good reader) seeing there is such a similarity and affinity between the temporary professor of the Gospel, and the true professor of the same: it is the duty of every Christian to try and examine himself whether he be in the faith or not (2 Corinthians 13:5). And whereas it is a hard thing for a man to search out his own heart, we are to pray to God that he would give us his Spirit to discern between that which is good and evil in us. Now when a man has found out the estate of his heart by searching it, he is further to observe and keep it with all diligence (Proverbs 4:23), that when the hour of death, or the day of trial shall come, he may stand sure and not be deceived of his hope.

And for this purpose I have described the most of these small treatises which follow, to minister to you some help in this examining and observing of your own heart. Read them and accept of them, and by the blessing of God they shall not be unprofitable to you. And if they shall at all help you, help me also with your prayer. 1595.

FINIS.