As there is none more averfe than weak believers, to apply the promises and comforts of the gofpel to themfelves, for whom they are properly defigned: So there are none more ready than they, to apply the threats and fevereft things of the world to themselves, for whom they were never intended.

As the difciples, when Chrift told them, "One of you fhall betray me," Matth. xxvi. 15. they that were innocent, fufpected themfelves moft, and therefore cry out, Mafter, is it I?

So weak Chriftians, when they hear finners reproved, or the hypocrite laid open in the miniftry of the word, they presently cry out, is it I?/

It is the hypocrite's fault, to fit under the trials and difcoveries of the word, and yet not to mind them.

And it is the weak Chriftian's fault, to draw fad conclufions of their own ftate from premifes which nothing concern them.

There is indeed great ufe of fuch doctrine, as this is, to all believers.

(1) To make them look to their standing,. upon what bottom they are, and to fee that the foundation of their hope be well laid, that they build not upon the sand, but upon a rock Matth. vii. 24. 26.

(2.) It helps to raise our admiration of the diftinguishing love of God, in bringing us into the way everlasting, when fo many perish. from the way; and in over-powering our

fouls

fouls into a true converfion, when fo many take up with a graceless profeflion, Pfal. cxxxix. 24.

(3.) It excites to that excellent duty of heart-fearching, that fo we approve ourselves to God in fincerity, 1 Cor. xiii. 5.

(4.) It engages the foul in double diligence, that it may be found not only believing, but perfevering in faith to the end.

Thefe duties (and fuch as these are) make this doctrine of ufe to all believers; but they ought not to make use of it as a ftumbling block in the way of their peace and comfort.

My defign in preaching on this fubject, is not to make fad the fouls of those whom Chrift will not have made fad; I would bring water not to quench the flax that is smoking, Matth. xii. 20 but to put out that falfe fire that is of the finners own kindling, left walking all his days by the light thereof, he fhall at last lie down in forrow, Ifa. 1. 1.

My aim is to level the mountain of the finner's confidence, not to weaken the hand of the believer's faith and dependance; to awaken and bring in fecure formal finner's, not to difcourage weak believers.

Secondly, I would premife this: Though many may go far (very far) in the way to heaven, and yet fall fhort; yet that foul that hath the leaft true grace, fhall never fall fhort: "The righteous fhall hold on his way," Job, xvii. 9.

Though fome may do very much in a way

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of

of duty, (as I fhall fhow hereafter) and yet mifcary; yet that foul that doth duty with the leaft fincerity, fhall never mifcarry: For he faveth the upright in heart, Pfal. vii. 10.

The leaft measure of true grace is as faving as the greateft: It faves as furely, though not fo comfortably. The leaft grace gives a full intereft in the blood of Chrift, whereby we are throughly purged; and it gives a full intereft in the ftrength and power of Chrift, whereby we fhall be certainly preferved.

Chrift keeps faith in the foul, and faith keeps the foul in Chrift; and fo We are kept by the power of God, through faith unto falvation,' 1 Pet. 1. 6.

Thirdly, I would premise this: They that can hear fuch truths as this, without ferious reflection and self-examination, I must suspect the goodness of their condition.

You will fufpect that man to be next door to a bankrupt, that never cafts up his shop, nor looks over his books: And I as verily think that man an hypocrite, that never fearches nor deals with his own heart.

He that goes on in a road of duties without any rub or doubting of his ftate, I doubt no man's ftate more than his.

When we see a man fick, and yet not fenfible, we conclude, the tokens of death are upon him.

So when finners have no fenfe of the fpiritual condition, it is plain that they are dead in fin, the tokens of eternal death are upon them.

Thefe

These things being premifed (which I defire you would carry along in your mind while we travel through this fubject) I come to speak to the propofition more distinctly and closely.

Doct. That there are very many in the world that are almoft, and yet but almost Ch iftians.

I fhall demonftrate the truth of the propofition, and then proceed to a more diftin&t

fecution.

pro

First, I fhall demonftrate the truth of the propofition, and I fhall do it by Scripture evidence, which fpeaks plainly and fully to the cafe.

1. The young man in the gofpel is an eminent proof of this truth, in Matth. xix. 16 to 23. there you read of one that came to Chrift, to learn of him the way to heaven; 'Good mafter, what good thing fhall I do, that I may have eternal live?' Our Lord Chrift tells him; 'If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments;' and when Chrift tells him which, he answers, Lord, all these have I kept from my youth up; what lack I yet?"

ver. 17, 20.

Now do but fee how far this man went.

1. He obeyed.) He did not only hear the commands of God, but he kept them: Now the Scripture faith, bleffed is he that hears the word of God, and keeps it, Luke xi. 18.

2. He obeyed univerfally,) Not this, or that command, but both this, and that: He did not half it with God, or pick and choose which

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which were eafieft to be done, and leave the reft: No, but he obeys all, All these have I kept.

3. He obeyed conftantly,) Not in a fit of zeal only, but in a continual feries of duty: His goodness was not (as Ephraim's Hofea vi. 4.) like the morning dew that paffeth away, no, All these things have I kept from my youth up.

4. He profeffeth his defire to know and do more, to perfect that which was lacking of his obedience: And therefore he goes to Christ to inftruct him in his duty; Master, what lack I yet? Now would you not think this a good man? Alas! how few go thus far?

And yet as far as he went, he went not far enough: He was almoft, and yet but almost a Chriftian. For he was an unfound hypocrite: He forfakes Christ at last, and cleaves to his luft, ver. 21.

This then is a full proof of the truth of the doctrine.

A fecond proof of it, is, that of the parable of the virgins, Matth. xxv, 1. and fo on. See what a progrefs they make, how far they go in a profeffion of Christ.

1. They are called virgins. Now this is a name given in the Scripture, both in the Old and New Testament, to the faints of Christ, Pfal. xlv. II. I Cor. xi. 2, 3. The virgins love thee, Cant. i. 3. So Rev. xiv. 4. the one hundred and forty four thoufand, that flood with the Lamb on mount Sion, are called

virgins.