Before The Work Of Grace The Heart

The Scripture Abounds In Commands And Cautions For Our Utmost Diligence In Our Search And Inquiry As To Whether We Are Made Partakers Of Christ Or Not, Or Whether His Spirit Dwells In Us Or Not-which Argue Both The Difficulty Of Attaining An Assured Confidence Herein, As Also The Danger Of Our Being Mistaken, And Yet The Certainty Of A Good Issue Upon The Diligent And Regular Use Of Means To That Purpose.

For To Pretend That Men May Live Habitually Sinful Lives Without Any Attempt By The Spirit To Mortify Sin In Them, Nor With Any Desire For Repentance, Is To Deny The Christian Religion.

Mortification From A Self-strength, Carried On By Ways Of Self-invention, Unto The End Of A Self-righteousness, Is The Soul And Substance Of All False Religion In The World.

So Great An Advantage Is Given To Sin And Satan By Your Temper And Disposition, That Without Extraordinary Watchfulness, Care, And Diligence, They Will Prevail Against Your Soul.

All That May Be Known Of God For Our Salvation, Especially His Wisdom, Love, Goodness, Grace And Mercy On Which The Life Of Our Souls Depends, Are Represented To Us In All Their Splendour In And Through Christ. No Wonder Then That Christ Is Glorious In The Eyes Of Believers!