126 A Survey of the Christian Temper, Chap. 14. CHAP. XIV. A more particular View of the several Branches of the CHRISTIAN TEMPER; by which the Reader may be farther assisted, in judging what he is, and what he should endeavour to be*. The Importance of the Case engages to a more particular Survey, what Manner of Spirit we are of: §. 1, %. Accordingly the Christian Temper is described, (1.) By some general Views of it; as, a New and Divine Temper, §. 3. As resembling that of Christ, §. 4. And as engaging us to be spiritually minded, and to walk by Faith, §. 5. A Plan of the Remainder : §. 6. In which the Christian Temper is more particularly considered. (II.) With regard to the Blessed GOD; as including Fear, Affection, and Obedience, §. 7. Faith and Love to Christ, §. 8, 9. Joy in Him, §. 10. And a proper Temper towards the Holy Spirit, particularly as a Spirit of Adoption and of Courage. §. 11—13. (III.) With Regard to ourselves; as including Preference of the Soul to the Body, Humility, Purity, §. 14. Temperance, §. 15. Contentment, §. 16. And Patience. §. 17. (IV.) With Regard to our Fellow-Creatures; as including Love, §. 18. Meekness, §. 19. Peaceableness, §. 20. Mercy, §. 21. Truth, *N. B. This Chapter is almost an Abridgment of that excellent Book of Dr. Evans, intitled, The Christian Temper, so far as it relates to the Description of it. For particular Arguments, to enforce each Part of this Temper, I must refer the Reader to the Book itself. Chap. 14. as implying a New and Divine Temper. 127 Truth, §. 22. And Candour, în judging. §. 23. (V.) General Qualifications of each Branch; §. 24. Such as Sincerity, §. 25. Constancy, §. 26. Tenderness, §. 27. Zeal; §. 28. And Prudence: §: 29. These Things should frequently be recollected. §. 30. A Review of all in a Scriptural Prayer. §. 1. W Eternity, I find it exceeding difficult to WHEN I consider the infinite Importance of satisfy myself in any Thing which I can say to Men, where their eternal Interests are concerned. I have given you a View, I hope I may truly say, a just, as well as faithful View of a truly Christian Tempér already. Yet for your farther Assistance, I would offer it to your Consideration in various Points of Light, that you may be assisted in judging of what you are, and what you ought to be. And in this I aim, not only at your Conviction, if you are yet a Stranger to real Religion, but at your farther Edification, if by the Grace of GoD, you are by this Time experimentally acquainted with it. Happy you will be, happy beyond Expression, if as you go on from one Article to another, you can say, "This is my Tem per and Character."Happy in no inconsiderable Degree, if you can say, This is what I desire, what I pray for, and what I pursue, in preference to every opposite "View, though it be not what I have as yet attained." §. 2. Search then, and try, what Manner of Spirit you are of (a).And may He that searcheth all Hearts direct the Enquiry, and enable you so to judge yourself, that you may not be condemned of the Lord (b)! §. 3. Know in the general, that if you are a Christian indeed, you have been renewed in the Spirit of your Mind (c); so renewed, as to be regenerated, and born again. It is not enough, to have assumed a new Name, to have been brought under some new Restraints, or to have made a partial Change in some Particulars of your Conduct. The Change must be great and universal. Enquire' then whether you have entertained new Apprehensions of Things, have formed a practical Judgment different from what you formerly did; whether the Ends you propose, the Affections which you feel working in your Heart, K 22 (a) Luke ix. 55. (b) 1 Cor. xi. 31, 32, and (c) Eph. iv. 23. * 128 It resembles that of Christ, Chap. 14. and the Course of Action to which, by those Affections, you are directed, be on the whole New or Old*? Again, "If you are a Christian indeed, you are Partaker 66 of a Divine Nature (d); Divine in its Original, its "Tendency, and its Resemblance." Enquire therefore, whether God hath implanted a Principle in your Heart, which tends to Him, and which makes you like Him.. Search your Soul attentively, to see if you have really the Image there of God's Moral Perfections, of His Holiness and Righteousness, His Goodness and Fidelity, for the New Man is after GOD created in Righteousness and true Holiness (e), and is renewed in Knowledge after the Image of Him that created him (f). §. 4. For your farther Assistance enquire, "whether "the same Mind be in you which was also in Christ (g); whether you bear the Image of God's incarnate Son, "the brightest and fairest Resemblance of the Father, which Earth or Heaven ever beheld." The blessed Jesus designed Himself to be a Model for all His Followers; and He is certainly a Model most fit for our Imitation; An Example in our own Nature, and in Circumstances adapted to general Use; an Example recom. mended to us at once by its spotless Perfection, and by the endearing Relation in which He stands to us, as our Master, our Friend, and our Head; as the Person by whom our everlasting State is to he fixed, and in a Re semblance to whom our final Happiness is to consist, if ever we are happy at all. Look then into the Life and Temper of Christ, as described and illustrated in the Gos pels, and search whether you can find any Thing like it in your own Life. Have you any Thing of His Devotion, Love, and Resignation to GOD? Any Thing of His Humility, Meekness, and Benevolence to Men? Any Thing of His Purity and Wisdom, His Contempt of the World, His Patience, His Fortitude, His Zeal? And indeed all the other Branches of the Christian Temper, which do not imply previous Guilt in the Person by whom (d) 2 Pet. i. 4. (e) Eph. iv. 24. (f) Col. iii. 10. The Reader may see those Thoughts illustrated at large, in the Three first of my Sermons on Regeneration. Chap. 14. and engages to be spiritually-minded. 129 whom they are exercised, may be called in to illustrate and assist your Enquiries under this Head. §. 5. Let me add, "If you are a Christian, you are "in the main spiritually minded, as knowing, that is Life "and Peace, whereas to be carnally minded is Death (h).” Though you live in the Flesh, you will not war after it (i); you will not take your Orders, and your Commands from it. You will indeed attend to its necessary Inte rests, as Matter of Duty? but it will still be with Regard to another and a nobler Interest, that of the Ra tional and Immortal Spirit. Your Thoughts, your Affections, your Pursuits, your Choice will be determined by a Regard to Things Spiritual, rather than Carnal. -In a Word, "you will walk by Faith and not by "Sight (k)." Future, invisible, and in some Degree in comprehensible Objects, will take up your Mind. Your Faith will act on the Being of God, His Perfections, His Providences, His Precepts, His Threatenings, and His Promises. It will act upon Christ, whom having not seen, you will love and honour (1). It will act on that unseen World, which it knows to be Eternal, and there fore infinitely more worthy of your affectionate Regard than any of those Things which are seen and are Temporal (m). §. 6. These are general Views of the Christian Temper, on which I would intreat you to examine yourself: And now I would go on to lead you into a Survey of the grand Branches of it, as relating to GOD, our Neighbour, and ourselves; and of those Qualifications, which must attend each of these Branches, such as Sincerity, Constancy, Tenderness, Zeal, and Prudence. And I beg your diligent Attention, while I lay before you a few. Hints with Regard to each, by which you may judge the better, both of your State and your Duty. §. 7. Examine then, I intreat you, "the Temper of your "Heart, with Regard to the blessed GOD." Do you find there a reverential Fear, and a supreme Love and Veneration for His incomparable Excellencies, a Desire after Him as the Highest Good, and a cordial Gratitude towards Him as your Supreme Benefactor? Can you trust His (h) Rom. viii. 6. (k) 2 Cor. v. 7. (i) 2 Cor. x. 3. 130 What it includes with Regard to GOD, Chap. 14. His Care? Can you credit His Testimony? Do you desire to pay an unreserved Obedience to all that He com mands, and an humble Submission to all the Disposals of His Providence? Do you design His Glory as your noblest End, and make it the great Business of your Life to approve yourself to Him? Is it your governing Care to imitate Him, and to serve Him in Spirit and in Truth (n)? §. 8. Faith in Christ I have already described at large; and therefore shall say nothing farther, either of that Persuasion of His Power and Grace, which is the great Foundation of it; or of that Acceptance of Christ under all His Characters, or that Surrender of the Soul into His Hands, in which its peculiar and distinguishing Nature consists. §. 9. If this Faith in Christ be sincere, it will un. doubtedly produce a Love to Him;" which will express itself, in affectionate Thoughts of Him; in strict Fidelity to Him; in a careful Observation of His Charge; in a Regard to His Spirit; to His Friends, and to His Interests; in a Reverence to the Memorials of His dying Love, which He has instituted; and in an ardent Desire after that Heavenly World where He dwells, and where He will at length have all His People to dwell with Him (0). §. 10. I may add, agrecable to the Word of Gon, that thus believing in Christ, and loving Him, you will also rejoice in Him" in His glorious Design, and in His complete Fitness to accomplish it, in the Promises of His Word, and in the Privileges of His People. It will be Matter of Joy to you, that such a Redeemer has appeared in this World of ours; and your Joy for yourselves will be proportionable to the Degree of Clearness, with which you discern your Interest in Him, and Relation to Him. §. 11. Let me farther lead you into some Reflections on the Temper of your Heart towards the Blessed "Spirit." If we have not the Spirit of Christ, we are none of His (p). If we are not led by the Spirit of GOD, we are not the Children of GOD (q). You will then, if you are a real Christian, desire that you may be filled with (n) John iv, 24, (0) John xvii. 24. (p) Rom. viii, 9, (q) Rom. viii, 14, |