Chapter 5

Concerning the Characteristical signs, aforementioned, I shall lay down two Conclusions.

1 These Characters are a Christian's box of evidences; for as an impenitent sinner has the signs of reprobation upon him, whereby, as by so many spots and tokens, he may know he shall die; so he who can show these happy signs of a godly man, may see the Symptoms of Salvation in his Soul, and may know he is passed from death to life. He is as sure to go to heaven, as if he were in heaven already. Such a person is undoubtedly a member of Christ, and if he should perish, then something of Christ might perish.

These blessed Characters, may comfort a Christian under all worldly dejections, and Diabolical suggestions. Satan tempts a Child of God with this, that he is an hypocrite, and has no title to the Land of promise. A Christian may pull out these evidences, and put the Devil to prove, that ever any wicked man or hypocrite, had such a fair Certificate to show for heaven. Satan may sooner prove himself a liar, than the Saint an hypocrite.

2 He who has one of these Characters in truth, has seminally all. He who has one link of a Chain, has the whole Chain.

Objection. But may a Child of God say, either I have not all these Characters, or they are so weakly wrought in me, that I cannot discern them?

Answer. To satisfy this scruple, you must diligently observe the distinctions the Scripture gives of Christians; it casts them into several classes and orders. Some are infantuli, little children, who are but newly laid to the breast of the Gospel; others are adulti, Young men, who are grown up to more maturity of Grace; others are patres, Fathers, who are ready to take their degree of Glory, 1 John 2:12-13, 4. Now, you who are but in the first rank or class, yet you may have the vitals of Godliness, as well as those who have arrived at a higher stature in Christ. The Scripture speaks of the Cedar, and the bruised Reed, the last of which is as true a Plant of the heavenly Paradise, as the other; so that the weakest ought not to be discouraged. All have not these characters of godliness written in Text-Letters; if they be but dimly stamped upon their souls, God can read the work of his Spirit there. Though the seal be but weakly set upon the wax, it ratifies the will, and gives a real conveyance of an estate. If there be found but some good thing towards the Lord (as it was said of Abijah) God will accept it.

Concerning these characteristic marks described above, let me lay down two conclusions.

1. These marks are a Christian's box of evidence. Just as an unrepentant sinner carries the signs of his lost condition — marks and symptoms by which he can know he is spiritually dying — so the person who can point to these marks of godliness can see the signs of salvation in his soul and know that he has passed from death to life. He is as certain to arrive in heaven as if he were already there. Such a person is without question a member of Christ — and if he were to perish, something of Christ Himself would perish with him.

These wonderful marks can comfort a Christian under every kind of worldly discouragement and every accusation from the devil. Satan tempts a child of God with the suggestion that he is a hypocrite with no real claim to the promised inheritance. A Christian can pull out these evidences and dare the devil to prove that any wicked person or hypocrite has ever been able to show such a clear certificate of title to heaven. Satan will find it easier to prove himself a liar than to prove a genuine saint a hypocrite.

2. The person who truly has even one of these marks carries the seed of all of them within him. Whoever holds one link of a chain holds the whole chain.

Objection: But what if a child of God says: Either I do not have all these marks, or they are so faintly present in me that I cannot see them clearly?

Answer: To resolve this concern, pay careful attention to the distinctions Scripture makes among believers. Scripture places Christians in different ranks and stages. Some are little children — just newly brought to the breast of the gospel. Others are young men, who have grown into greater maturity of grace. Others are fathers, nearly ready to receive their degree of glory. 1 John 2:12-14. You who are only in the first stage may still have the vital core of godliness just as truly as those who have reached a higher stature in Christ. Scripture speaks of both the cedar and the bruised reed — and the last is as true a plant of the heavenly paradise as the first. Therefore the weakest should not be discouraged. Not everyone has these marks of godliness written in bold capital letters on their souls. Even if they are faintly stamped, God can read the work of His Spirit there. A seal only lightly pressed into wax still ratifies a will and gives legal title to an estate. If there is found only some good thing toward the Lord — as was said of Abijah — God will accept it.