DIALOGUE 1. : THE SELF-DECEIVER MADE ACQUAINTED WITH HIMSELF; in a Dialogue between a Minister and his Parishioner. Minister. WHEN I saw you last, my friend and neighbour, I told you that love and duty oblige me, besides my public preaching, to watch over my flock, and to instruct them, separately, as far as I am able. We cannot, you know, speak so familiarly in a common sermon, as in private conference; and therefore I entreated you to allow me, now and then, to have a little sober talk with you, when all other matters might for a time be laid aside; and I am now come to claim your promise to give me a patient hearing. Parishioner. You are welcome, Sir; though, being ignorant and unlearned, I am loth to talk with such a man as you about matters of religion, which I do not well understand; but because you desired it, I could not refuse you. M. You shall see that I come not to dispute with you, nor to propose to you any needless questions, but merely to help you so to live that you may inherit everlasting life. P. I have sense enough to know that Christ's ministers must suit their instructions to their hearers. But to tell you the truth, Sir, there are so many busy fellows who love to meddle with other people's matters, either wishing to draw us to their own opinions, or else to make themselves teachers, and to seem wiser and better than they are, that I was at first unwilling you should trouble me about religion; till I heard how discreetly and how kindly you have spoken to those who have been with you. This made me desirous of seeing you, and I sincerely welcome you to my house. M. But I have one request to make before we begin; that we may consider ourselves as in the presence of God, and beg his blessing; and that you will not be offended with me if I speak freely, and only seek the salvation of your soul: for it is not flattery that will save souls. P. God forbid that I should be offended with you for seeking my good; for I know you are wiser than I, and I know, by long experience, that it is nothing but our salvation which you seek. M. I pray you then tell me in what state of preparation you think yourself for another world; and what do you think would become of you, if you should die this day? P. God knows what he will do with us all; I know not. But we must hope the best, and put our trust in the mercy of God. M. No doubt but God knows; but do you think that we may not ourselves know what is our real spiritual state? P. I think not: we can but only hope well, without being sure. For who can tell the secrets of God? M. Cannot a man know his spiritual state, if God should tell him? P. Yes; but God tells nobody his mind. M. There you are mistaken; for surely you think the Holy Scriptures are God's word; and whatever they tell us, that God tells us. P. Yes; I cannot deny that. M. Do you believe that there is another life after this, and that the soul of man goeth either to heaven or hell? P. Yes; that must not be denied. M. Since, then, heaven is a place of inconceivable glory, and hell of the most inexpressible misery, do you not think that there must needs be a very great difference between those who go to the former, and those who go to the latter? P. Yes, no doubt; God is not unjust: he would not take one to heaven, and send another to hell, if they were both alike. M. Are, then, a godly man and a wicked man so like, that they cannot be known asunder? P. Nobody knoweth the heart but God. M. Another cannot infallibly know it further than the life declareth it: but cannot you know your own heart? Cannot you know what you love and what you hate? P. No doubt but a man may know his own mind. M. Very good! And you hear the Scriptures read at Church, where there are abundance of promises made to the godly, both for this life and that to come; and terrible threatenings to the ungodly. But who could take any comfort in the promises, if he were not encouraged to hope that they belonged to him? P. Yet this hope is little more than conjecture. M. But do you not hear, in 2 Cor. xiii. 5. "exa. mine yourselves whether you be in the faith or no: prove your own selves: know you not your own selves that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates ?" Do you think God would bid men try and examine, and prove themselves, if this were impossible? P. No: certainly we must do our best: but who can tell who are the elect? These are God's secrets. M. When God converteth sinners, he sanctifieth them; he putteth into them a holy nature, a new mind, and a new will, and turneth them to a new life: and may not all this be known? Did you never hear, 2 Tim. ii. 19. " the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal; the Lord knoweth them that are his; and, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity?" When men believe in Christ, and depart from iniquity, then they may know that they are his. P. I cannot deny, Sir, what you say. M. But tell me further, have you not read or heard that some are called in Scripture the children of God, and said to have his nature, and his image? and therefore are said to be born again, and born of God, and required to be holy as he is holy? And others are called the children of the Devil, and said to be of him, and to be ruled, as captives, by him, to do his works and will? And dare you think that God and the Devil are so like, as that their image, and nature, and works, and children, cannot be known one from another? P. I dare not think so. God forbid ! M. And have you not heard in Scripture, that abundant marks are laid down, by which we may know whether we are the children of God or not? |