Counsel 3

Counsel, 3.

Often bring yourselves to the trials of a self-examination. It is the charge of God, in 2 Corinthians 13:5: Examine yourselves whether you be in the faith; prove your own selves. Your souls are as vessels, then pierce them to see what they have. Your souls are as metals, then touch them to see what they are — such are the allusions of the Holy Spirit there. Know yourself, was a golden rule of old, and it will make a golden saint when we make much use of that rule, try yourself. We are to use the Word of God as a glass in which we are to behold ourselves; and we are often to compare ourselves with what is therein required of us. When we are in a meditation, as we should every day be upon some truths of God, we should then examine ourselves, whether we are moulded according thereunto. And when we are under a visitation, as we sometimes are, by the rods of God, we should then examine ourselves, as they that of old said, Let us now search and try our ways. Especially when we are approaching to the table of the Lord, self-examination is not then to be omitted. So has the Apostle urged, in 1 Corinthians 11:28: Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. It is a fearful impiety and presumption, for a man to sit down at the Holy Supper without enquiring, Have I a wedding garment on, or no? Yes, it is convenient for a man every evening, before he sleeps to examine himself and ask, If I die this night, is my immortal spirit safe? O tremble exceedingly lest your doom should be that in Jeremiah 2:37: The Lord has rejected your confidences, and you shall not prosper in them. Therefore be much in examining yourselves.

Examine whether you have true REPENTANCE.

Therefore try whether you are at so much pains for no outward and earthly thing, as you are for the mortification of every lust.

And try whether afflictions themselves are welcome to you, when you see your sins thereby embittered and subdued.

Examine whether you have true FAITH.

Therefore try whether your souls are extremely affected with the blessed fullness and glory which is in the Lord Jesus Christ. And try whether your hearts most affectionately close with the gospel-way of salvation by Jesus Christ, so as cheerfully to venture the lives of your souls upon it.

Examine, whether you have true LOVE.

Therefore try, whether any thing that has a tendency to promote the honor of God, be readily embraced by you, as a thing more desirable than all the riches in the world.

And try whether you count no service too much to be done for the people of the saints of the Most High. Put the question to yourselves, and let the preface of your answer be that request in Psalms 139:23: Search me O God, and try me, and help me to know myself.

To be much in such self-examination is the way to be a golden Christian, and indeed, none but such an one will have a value for the exercise.

2. Let us also approve ourselves, as gold, under the dispensations of the blessed God.

Particularly,

First. Let them that are in prosperity behave themselves well under the trials of the Lord. It may be that you are come to have store of gold; O that you may be like what you have! It is possible that you have been in much distress and sorrow: but God has brought you forth, as it is said he brought Israel out of Egypt, in Psalms 105:37: He brought them forth with gold.

Consider, that God is now trying of your faithfulness. No doubt, you have sometimes promised the God of Heaven, that if you might have such a measure of health and strength, or, that if you might have such a degree of estate and honor you would glorify God with a wonderful activity. Well, says our God, I'll try. God is trying whether you will be true to those professions and engagements, which you made before he so smiled upon you. God is trying whether you will not confirm that observation, in Jeremiah 17:9: The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.

Consider moreover, that God is now trying of your thankfulness. A very terrible wrath is denounced against them in Deuteronomy 28:47, who serve not God for the abundance of all things. God gives you an abundance of all things, and it is to try whether you will serve him, and praise him for it. God is trying whether you will now often say, Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me! God is trying whether you will now think, What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits? Let us be as gold by affording now a good experiment.

Secondly, let them that are in adversity, likewise behave themselves as under the trials of the Lord. We may most or all of us, lament, I am the man that has seen affliction; there is a variety of calamity which we are tried withal. God forbid that we should procure to ourselves the brand set upon that wicked man of old, In the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord. Never was there in this world a more doleful sight than that of a thief on a cross, yet neglecting and affronting the Son of God. We that have been lately under affliction, (particularly, under that affliction of sickness) have as it were lain among the pots; God has as it were laid us by among the meanest lumps of clay; but O that we may now come forth doves, having wings covered with silver, and feathers with yellow gold! O that we may come forth of our trials more gracious, more savoury, more heavenly, than ever we were in our lives before; that the iron-age of grief may issue in a golden-age of grace, to us; that our adversity may procure more grace to us, than ever the prosperity of Solomon did gold to him. It is to be desired, that the transmutation of metals may be exemplified in us; and that the most exquisite [illegible] powder may not be so powerful, to make natural gold, as the dust of affliction may be to make spiritual gold of our souls. Look to it, lest our character be that, reprobate silver, which is rejected by the Lord.