Signs of True Saving Grace

To fill up the vacant PAGES, a serious and most important question, shall be briefly answered. Namely.

HOW a man may know that he is gone beyond a hypocrite? Or, that there is true saving grace wrought in his soul?

Ans. 1. An universal respect to the commandments of God argues sincerity (Deuteronomy 5:29): "O that there were such a heart in them that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always." A constant regard to all the commandments is a sign that the heart is touched with the true fear of God. Let such a man hope for salvation and he shall never be ashamed by finding himself disappointed of his expectation (Psalm 119:6): "Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect to all your commandments." David's integrity of heart is noted by his being a man that would fulfill all God's will (Acts 13:22). This is an evidence of regeneration and of a true faith. No man in the [illegible] does conscientiously observe every commandment, but only the true [illegible] on Christ (John 15:14): "You are my friends if you do whatever I command you." A hypocrite does [illegible] and choose among the commandments of God; some of them he will obey, but others of them he would be dispensed with, though he lives transgressing of them. Jehu went far, and made a glorious profession, but see 2 Kings 10:31. So [illegible] Mark 6:19–20. The sincere child of God is like Cornelius, resolved to hear, that is to obey, all things that are commanded of God (Acts 10:33), and like Zachary and Elizabeth of whom it is said, as in Luke 1:6.

2. When sin is become a man's greatest burden, that argues a real saving change of soul. Such a one has a new heart given to him. There is spirit as well as flesh, grace as well as sin in that man's soul (Galatians 5:17). It is from grace in the heart that sin is become the most hated, loathsome evil. It was a good answer which a holy man gave to one that proposed that question, How may a man know that a sin is mortified? If (said he) it is become unsavory and loathsome like a dead and rotten carcass, that is a sign of its mortification. Though sin has a being still in that man's soul, it does not reign there to death. Suppose a living man should have a dead body chained to him that he could not possibly get rid of, this must needs be matter of constant sorrow to him, and he would desire nothing more than to get clear of that dead body: this is the very case of the true believer on Christ, which makes him cry out, "Oh! wretched man that I am" (Romans 7:24). That sin is become the greatest burden to the renewed soul is evident, inasmuch as one of the chief reasons why he is willing to die is that [illegible] may never sin more. There are especially two considerations which make the believer willing to leave this world: one is, that so he may see Jesus Christ, and be with him for ever; the other is that so he may be eternally freed from sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin (Romans 6:7). Nothing is sweeter than life, yet life is not so dear to the sincere Christian as sin is grievous and hateful to him. Hence it comes to pass that if at any time temptations and iniquities prevail over him, the sorrows of his soul are enlarged: he then says as Rebekah did, "I am weary of my life because of the children of Heth." And because sin is become the most abhorred evil to him, there are sins which unregenerate men are seldom troubled for, that the sincere Christian cannot allow himself in, namely sinful thoughts. I dare not say that whoever is afraid to commit a sin in his thoughts is certainly gone beyond a hypocrite; if I should so speak, I should sow pillows under the elbows of many a hypocrite. Such as have been no Christians at all, moral heathen, would conscientiously check themselves for, and refrain from some evil thoughts; but if there be a wonderful change in a man's thoughts, that he dare not allow himself in any sinful thought, and that vain unprofitable thoughts which will crowd themselves into his mind, full sore against his will, [illegible] become a burden to him, this is a sign of a true conversion (Psalm 119:113 and 137:23; Isaiah 55:7; Jeremiah 4:14).

3. An earnest desire after much holiness is an infallible sign of true saving grace wrought in the soul. The Holy Spirit [illegible] sealed that man to the day of redemption whose soul within him does desire holiness more than any thing in this world. Enquire of your soul; if the Lord should put it to your choice, whether you would be the richest or the holiest person on the earth, which of these would your heart choose? Would your heart say, Let me be a holy rather than a great man on the earth? If I may but have much grace, and bring much glory to God and to Jesus Christ, let who will take the great things of the world. Then you are born of God: the marks of the Lord Jesus are on your soul; you do follow holiness, and you shall see God (Hebrews 12:14).

FINIS.