IV. 1. From this plain account of the three-fold state of man, the _natural_, the _legal_, and the _evangelical_, it appears, that it is not sufficient, to divide mankind, into sincere, and insincere. A man may be sincere in any of these states; not only when he has the _Spirit of adoption_, but while he has the _spirit of bondage unto fear_. Yea, while he has neither this fear, nor love. For undoubtedly there may be sincere Heathens, as well as sincere _Jews_ or Christians. This circumstance then, does by no means prove, that a man is in a state of acceptance with God. _Examine yourselves_ therefore, not only whether ye are sincere, _but whether ye be in the faith_. Examine narrowly; for it imports you much. What is the ruling principle in your soul? Is it the love of God? Is it the fear of God? Or is it neither one nor the other? Is it not rather the love of the world? The love of pleasure? or gain, of ease, or reputation? If so, you are not come so far as a _Jew_. You are but a _Heathen_ still. Have you heaven in your heart? Have you the Spirit of adoption, ever crying, _Abba, Father_? Or do you cry unto God, as _out of the belly of hell_, overwhelmed with sorrow and fear? Or are you a stranger to this whole affair, and cannot imagine what I mean? Heathen, pull off the mask. Thou hast never put on Christ. Stand barefaced. Look up to heaven. And own before him that liveth for ever and ever, thou hast no part either among the sons or servants of God. Whosoever thou art, dost thou commit sin, or dost thou not? If thou dost, is it willingly or unwillingly? In either case God hath told thee whose thou art, _He that committeth sin is of the devil_. If thou committest it willingly, thou art his faithful servant. He will not fail to reward thy labour. If unwillingly, still thou art his servant. God deliver thee out of his hands! Art thou daily fighting against all sin? And daily more than conqueror? I acknowledge thee for a child of God. O stand fast in thy glorious liberty. Art thou fighting, but not conquering; striving for the mastery, but not able to attain? Then thou art not yet a believer in Christ; but follow on, and thou shalt know the Lord. Art thou not fighting at all, but leading an easy, indolent fashionable life? O how hast thou dared to name the name of Christ? Only to make it a reproach among the Heathen? Awake thou sleeper! Call upon thy God: before the deep swallow thee up.