Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1828 Excerpt: ... Psalm cxxxix. 23,24 "Search me, 0 God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting," This is the only way whereby we may have the Spirit of God witnessing unto our sincerity, with our own spirits. There is need of calling in divine assistance in this matter, both from the importance of it, and from its difficulty; God alone knowing fully and perfectly, what is in the hearts of men. I no way doubt but that in the impartial use of these means, a man may come to assured satisfaction in his own mind, such as wherein he shall not be deceived, whether he doth animate and quicken his thoughts of spiritual things in duties with inward vital grace, or whether they are impressions on his mind, by the occasion of the duty. A duty this is of great importance and necessity, now hypocrisy hath made so great an inroad on profession, and gifts have deflowered grace in its principal operations. No pe rsons are in greater danger of walking at hazard with God, than those who live in the exercise of spiritual gifts in duties, unto their own satisfaction and others. For they may countenance themselves with an appearance of every thing that should be in them in reality and power, when there is nothing of it in them. And so it hath fallen out. We have seen many earnest in the exercise of this gift, who have turned vile and debauched apostates. Some have been known to live in sin and an indulgence of their lusts, and yet to abide constant in their duties. Isa. i. 15. And we may hear prayers sometimes that openly discover themselves unto spiritual sense, to be the labour of the brain, by the help of gifts in memory and invention, without an evidence of any mixture of humility, reverence, or godly fear...
