Use 2: Of Examination

Examine and try whether you have that faith, that believing that is sound and saving and effectual. We see there is a faith that is not sound; and there is much of that kind of ware in the world. There is a stony-ground, and there is a thorny-ground believing that never reaches home. There are many believers that fall short; therefore we should never rest, till we have attained sound and saving faith. As in (2 Corinthians 13:5): Examine yourselves whether you be in the faith: prove yourselves, etc. Sirs, see what metal you are made of, whether true gold, or copper; be not put off with every varnish, with every glittering. All is not gold that glitters is a true proverb. There are multitudes of professors, with their high privileges, that make a glittering show among men; that pass for current coin here, that will not pass at that day of trial, when God shall kindle his fire in Zion, and set up his furnace in Jerusalem (Isaiah 31). There are many that pass examination and trial among men, that crowd among believers to the church on earth, that shall never have a seat among saints in heaven. Multitudes of counterfeits among us, whose faith upon a due trial will not amount to the value of a brass farthing. We are often deceived with counterfeit pieces for current money; and our want of discerning makes the same passable. So we cannot discriminate between professors and professors, between formalists and true believers. We know not what offerings persons present before the Lord; but be sure there is a world of false coin cast into the Lord's treasury. Many sit down at the table of the Lord, who have no right to the children's bread; they feed without faith, or fear, or examination of their fitness. But such should tremble at the damnation threatened, and remember the caution given (1 Corinthians 11:28-29): But let a man examine himself and so let him eat, etc., for he that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself. And so does he that has not sound and saving faith, whereby to discern the Lord's body; this being an essential requisite to that heavenly participation. Many for want of this effectual, saving faith may deceive their own souls, and so miss of heaven in the heights of their hopes; as they in (Luke 13:26) and (Matthew 7:22): Lord, Lord, open to us: we have eaten and drunk in your presence, etc. But Christ will disown them, and send them packing away, with that curse, Depart from me you workers of iniquity.

Oh Sirs! Examine yourselves, be much upon this work of self-examination. Be not deceived, as to trust in every working, you find and feel in your own heart; every pang of sweet affection; every stirring of joy and delight in hearing the word; though be thankful for any such thing. There are many hearers, that hear sermon after sermon, the most ravishing truths of the gospel displayed in the most affecting and charming manner, in the highest strains of divine rhetoric to gain their affections; and yet to this day never come up to that with the stony-ground hearers (in the text) to receive the word with joy. It may be you never heard a sermon in your lifetime with any affection of joy or rejoicing in hearing the word; but rather that has been your inward thought and working of heart (Malachi 1:13): Behold! what a weariness is it, etc. And you are restless till the tiresome glass be run out, and the tedious sermon be ended. Alas! many (if not most) that sit in our assemblies, are mere highway hearers, that are so trodden, beaten, hardened with the commonness of preaching, that they are not affected with any thing. The wild fowl of roving thoughts and carnal affections devour all.

Such as these are far from faith; they have scarce so much as any kind of faith or degree of believing. They are not got so far as the stony-ground, who receive the word with joy, and for a while believe; but neither is this a faith that reaches home. Oh! it highly concerns all to see whether they have that faith that accompanies salvation. Fall upon the work of examination, grounded upon the premises and the nature of saving faith; if you pretend to faith,

1. Examine which way you came by your faith. Consider how faith was wrought in you; or whether you have a kindly work of faith wrought in your soul. Have you been made to see your perishing condition, by reason of sin and wrath lying upon you? Can you remember how the Lord has made you bemoan yourself to him with Ephraim (Jeremiah 3:18-19)? To renounce all false props and confidences with Paul (Philippians 3)? To confess the iniquity of your sin with David (Psalm 51:32)? To cry out with them, What shall we do? (Acts 2:37). Have you seen the wonderful, glorious, rich grace of God in the free offer of Christ in the gospel? Did you ever see the sight of Christ in the gospel, as a most glorious sight? Did you ever relish that glorious object offered, as exceeding sweet and precious?

Has it broken your heart, that yet, after all your backslidings, He should lift up a cry of grace in your ears? (Jeremiah 3:1). Have you been made to hear the voice of Christ's call in the gospel, and been thereby drawn to come to him, and to receive him, and close with him? Was it your special end in coming to Christ, to get possessed of himself, and by him deliverance from sin and spiritual life? And has that been the voice of your soul in coming to him (Hosea 14:2-3): Take away all iniquity.

He, that has had faith wrought in his heart, has been made to know what these things mean; such breathings and workings as these, are the footsteps of the Spirit of grace, and expressions of that faith, which is of the operation of God. Thus (I say) examine which way you did come by your faith: [reconstructed: How faith was wrought in you].

2. Examine whether you have changed the rest of your souls. Where there is true faith, the rest of the soul is changed; there is a resting upon Christ or in him; and indeed that is the formal nature of faith: a resting and relying on Christ for righteousness and life. Naturally all men rest somewhere else, namely in themselves, in the world, in their carnal contentments and hopes, in their own righteousness. Therefore the believer has changed his rest: his rest is now upon God in Christ Jesus (Hebrews 4:3). For we, which have believed do enter into rest. The soul casts itself upon Christ, as the whole foundation of its hope, rock of its refuge, stay of its soul, and the all of its expectations and desires. Oh! Examine, is Christ the rock you build your rest on; the stronghold you shelter in; the help you trust to; the portion you live upon; the hill of salvation your eyes are to; the hope and good, that gives quiet and contentment, and rest to souls.

3. Examine, do you live by faith? From where is the spring of your life? Is Christ the feeder and maintainer of your life by faith (Galatians 2:20)? Faith is the believer's daily work: he is often putting it forth and acting it upon Christ. Is faith your practice, your trade? Are your prayers the voice of faith? Oh! are we knit to a higher principle? Have we a pipe laid to a higher fountain than this world?

Oh consider of such things, and make clear this grand tenure and title to salvation — to that glorious inheritance of the saints in light and glory — faith in Christ Jesus, sound and saving faith. And would you by examination have further knowledge of it, what it is? For your further help here, take these three characters of a sound and effectual faith.

1. That faith is sound, that is accompanied with a forsaking of all for Christ: sin, self, and world, and all the lusts and vanities thereof. When there is an absolute divorce from all others, then there is a marriage to Christ; for there is no intermediate state.

2. That faith is sound, that is accompanied with esteem of and love to Christ; and that produces a conjugal affection to him. He has the wedding garment on, that has a marriage affection to Christ Jesus. Where there is such peculiar love to Christ, there the heart is indeed set upon him; for love carries the whole soul with it. Ibi anima ubi amat, et amor figit Oculum: love is a knitting affection — this knits the soul to Christ. Where there is love out of a pure heart, there is faith unfeigned (1 Timothy 1:5).

3. That faith is sound and effectual, that purifies the heart, and is fruitful in the course of one's life. A purifying and a working faith, such a faith as is accompanied with repentance, and followed with new obedience (Acts 15:9; James 2:18; Galatians 5:6). That faith is effectual that is accompanied with a change of heart and life. True faith and repentance ever go together.