3.  Let them try and see, if, in studying holiness, they be not led by corrupt ends; and do not more labour after sanctification, that they may be more worthy and the better accepted of God, and that they may have quietness and peace as to their acceptance with God, as if this were any cause, matter, or condition of their righteousness and justification before God, than that they may shew their obedience to the command of God, 1 Thes. iv. 3.  Eph. ii. 10.  John xv. 16; and express their thankfulness to him, and glorify God, Mal. i. 6.  Matt. iii. 16.  John xvii. 10.  Eph. iv. 30; and if so, they ought to acknowledge God’s goodness in that disappointment, seeing thereby they see more and more a necessity of laying aside their own righteousness, and of betaking themselves to the righteousness of Christ, and of resting on that alone for peace and acceptance with God.

4.  They should try and see, if their negligence and carelessness in watching, and in the discharge of duties, do not occasion their disappointments and shortcoming.  God sometimes thinks fit to suffer a lion of corruption to set on them, that they may look about them, and stand more vigilantly upon their watch-tower, knowing that they have to do with a vigilant adversary, the devil, who, as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour, I Pet. v. 8. and that “they fight not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world; against spiritual wickedness in high places,” Eph. vi. 12.  It is not for nought that we are so often commanded to watch, Matt. xxiv. 42, and xxv. 13, and xxvi. 41, and xiv. 38.  Luke xxi. 36.  Mark xiii. 33-37. 1 Cor. xvi. 13. 1 Thes. v. 6. 1 Pet. iv. 7.  Col. iv. 2.  Through the want of this, we know what befel David and Peter.

5.  They should try and see, whether there be not too much self-confidence, which occasioned Peter’s foul fall.  God may, in justice and mercy, suffer corruption to break loose upon such, at a time, and tread them under foot, to learn them afterward to carry more soberly; and to “work their salvation with fear and trembling,” Phil. ii. 12, remembering what a jealous, holy God he is, with whom they have to do; what an adversary they have against them; and how weak their own strength is.

6.  This should be remembered, that one may be growing in grace, and advancing in holiness, when, to his apprehension, he is not going forward from strength to strength, but rather going backward.  It is one thing to have grace, and another thing to see that we have grace; so it is one thing to be growing in grace, and another thing to see that we are growing in grace.  Many may question their growth in grace, when their very questioning of it may evince the contrary.  For they may conclude no growth, but rather a back-going, because they perceive more and more violent, and strong corruptions, and hidden works of darkness and wickedness, within their soul, than ever they did before; while