Richard Baxter
A Christian Directory
Practical Works, vol. 1, p. 497.

[You must] do your best in the close examination of your hearts about your states, and the sincerity of your faith, repentance and obedience: to know whether your hearts are true to God, in the covenant which you are to renew and to seal. Which may be done by these inquiries, and discerned by these signs:

(1.) Whether you truly loathe yourselves for all the sins of your hearts and lives, and are a greater offence and burden to yourselves, because of your imperfections and corruptions, than all the world beside is (Ezekiel 6:9; 20:43; 36:31; Romans 7:24).

(2.) Whether you have no sin but what you are truly desirous to know; and no known sin, but what you are truly desirous to be rid of; and so desirous, as that you had rather be perfectly freed from sin, than from any affliction in the world (Romans 7:18, 22, 24; 8:18).

(3.) Whether you love the searching and reforming light, even the most searching parts of the Word of God, and the most searching books, and searching sermons, that by them you may be brought to know yourselves, in order to your settled peace and reformation (John 3:19-21).

(4.) Whether you truly love that degree of holiness in others which you have not yet attained yourselves, and love Christ in his children, with such an unfeigned love, as will cause you to relieve them according to your abilities, and suffer for their sakes, when it is your duty (1 John 3:14, 16; 1 Peter 1:22; 3:8; James 2:12-15; Matthew 25:40-46).

(5.) Whether you can truly say, that there is no degree of holiness so high, but you desire it, and had rather be perfect in the love of God, and the obedience of his will, than have all the riches and pleasures of this world (Romans 7:18, 21, 24; Psalm 119:5; Matthew 5:6). And had rather be one of the holiest saints, than of the most renowned, prosperous princes upon earth (Psalm 15:4; 16:2; 84:10; 65:4).

(6.) Whether you have so far laid up your treasure, and your hopes in heaven, as that you are resolved to take that only for your portion; and that the hopes of heaven, and interest of your souls, hath the preeminence in your hearts against all that stands in competition with it (Colossians 3:1-4; Matthew 6:20-21).

(7.) Whether the chiefest care of your hearts, and endeavour of your lives, be to serve and please God, and to enjoy him for ever, rather than for any worldly thing (Matthew 6:23; John 5:26; 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6-9).

(8.) Whether it be your daily desire and endeavour to mortify the flesh, and master its rebellious opposition to the Spirit; and you so far prevail, as not to live, and walk, and be led by the flesh, but that the course and drift of your life is spiritual (Romans 8:1, 6-10, 13; Galatians 5:17, 21-22).

(9.) Whether the world, and all its honour, wealth and pleasure appear to you so small and contemptible a thing, as that you esteem it as dung, and nothing in comparison of Christ, and the love of God and glory? and are resolved, that you will rather let go all, than your part in Christ? And, which useth to carry it in the time of trial, in your deliberate choice? (Philippians 3:7-9, 13-14, 18-20; 1 John 2:15; Luke 14:26, 30, 33; Matthew 13:19, 21).

(10.) Whether you are resolved upon a course of holiness and obedience, and to use those means which God doth make known to you, to be the way to please him, and to subdue your corruption; and yet feeling the frailties of your hearts, and the burden of your sins, do trust in Christ as your righteousness before God, and in the Holy Ghost, whose grace alone can illuminate, sanctify, and confirm you (Acts 11:23; Psalm 119:57, 63, 69, 106; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Romans 8:9; John 15:5; 2 Corinthians 12:9).

By these signs you may safely try your states.