[36] Whereas there are two great and grievous sorts of trouble raised, one in the churches at the trial of members, and an other in men's consciences in trying their states, about this question, How to know true conversion or sanctification? I must tell them in both these troubles, plainly, that christianity is but one thing, the same in all ages, which is their consent to the baptismal covenant: and there is no such way to resolve this question, as to write or set before you the covenant of baptism in its proper sense, and then ask your hearts, whether you unfeignedly and resolvedly consent. He that consenteth truly, is converted and justified; and he that professeth consent, is to be received into the church by baptism (if his parents' consent did not bring him in before, which he is to do nevertheless himself at age). [37] Passibilis timor est irrationabilis, et ad irrationabilia constitutus, sed eum præcipit qui cum disciplina et recta ratione consistit, cujus proprium est reverentia. Qui enim propter Christum et doctrinam ejus Deum timet, cum reverentia ei subjectus est; cum ille qui per verbera aliaque tormenta timet Deum, passibilem timorem habete viderur. Dydimus Alex. in Pet. 1. [38] Every one is not a thief, that a dog barks at; nor an hypocrite, that hypocrites call so. [39] As the Athenians, that condemned Socrates to death, and then lamented it, and erected a brazen statue for his memorial. [40] Acosta saith, that he that will be a pastor to the Indians, must not only resist the devil and the flesh, but must resist the custom of men which is grown powerful by time and multitude: and must oppose his breast to receive the darts of the envious and malevolent, who, if they see any thing contrary to their profane fashion, they cry out, A traitor! a hypocrite! an enemy! lib. 4. c. 15. p. 404. It seems among papists and barbarians, the serpent's seed do hiss in the same manner against the good among themselves, as they do against us. [41] Eph. ii. 1; Col. ii. 13; 1 Cor. xv. 35; 1 Tim. v. 6; Joel i. 5 [42] Rom. viii. 9, 16; Rom. ix. 8; Eph. ii. 3. [43] See my sermon on Prov. i. 32, in the end of "The vain Religion of the Formal Hypocrite." [44] Read Mr. Bolton's Assize Sermon on 1 Cor. i. 26. [45] See more of Temptations, chap. iii. direct. 9. CHAPTER II. DIRECTIONS TO YOUNG CHRISTIANS OR BEGINNERS IN RELIGION, FOR THEIR ESTABLISHMENT AND SAFE PROCEEDING.[46] Before I come to the common directions for the exercise of grace, and walking with God, containing the common duties of christianity, I shall lay down some previous instructions, proper to those that are but newly entered into religion (presupposing what is said in my book of directions to those that are yet under the work of conversion, to prevent their miscarrying by a false superficial change).