4. Beware then, thou who art called by the name of Christ, that thou come not short of the mark of thy high calling. Beware thou rest not, either in a natural state, with too many that are accounted _good Christians_: or in a legal state, wherein those who are _highly esteemed of men_, are generally content to live and die. Nay, but God hath prepared better things for thee, if thou follow on till thou attain. Thou art not called to fear and tremble, like devils, but to rejoice and love, like the angels of God. _Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength._ Thou shalt _rejoice evermore_. Thou shalt _pray without ceasing_. Thou shalt _in every thing give thanks_. Thou shalt do the will of God _on earth, as it is done in heaven_. O _prove_ thou _what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God_. Now _present_ thyself _a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God. Whereunto thou hast already attained, hold fast_, by _reaching forth unto those things which are before_; until _the God of peace make thee perfect in every good work, working in thee that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever! Amen._ SERMON X. THE WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT. DISCOURSE I. ROM. viii. 16. _The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God._ 1. HOW many vain men, not understanding what they spake, neither whereof they affirmed, have wrested this scripture, to the great loss, if not the destruction, of their souls? How many have mistaken the voice of their own imagination, for this _witness of the Spirit_ of God? And thence idly presumed, they were the children of God, while they were doing the works of the devil? These are truly and properly _Enthusiasts_; and indeed in the worst sense of the word. But with what difficulty are they convinced thereof? Especially, if they have drank deep into that spirit of error. All endeavours to bring them to the knowledge of themselves, they will then account _fighting against God_. And that vehemence and impetuosity of spirit, which they call _contending earnestly for the faith_, sets them so far above all the usual methods of conviction, that we may well say, _With men it is impossible_.