19o Golpel Remfsiorz: children in timesof thong temptations , they are not able to read their Evidences as Children when their eyes are blear 'd and blinded, give them the Book and they cannot read thereon fo when your hearts are under great tempta- tions and afflif}ions, this is not a time of trial ; then by the way,, ifit be not for a godly man, much lefs for a wicked man : many wicked men put it off to the day of death and never fo much as put themfelves to trial, till horrour of Con- fcience or fears of death put them upon it ; it is an ill time for Gods people to try themfelves then : Suppofe you would weigh Gold, you will not do it ina form or wind ; the trial of our eftate is like the weighing of gold ; for we are to weigh ourfelves by the balance of the SanEZuary, that we may know whether we (hall be weight when God comes to weigh us ; for every foul muff be weighed,and wo be to thofe to whom God fhall fay as he did to Belfhaz,zar, when the hand-writing appearedupon the wall, itwau fo terrible to him, that his knees moteone againfl another ; But what was that ? Thouart weigh., ed in thebalance, andart found too light : fuch a hand will many find one day : Poor foul that thoughteff thy felf in a good condition, and that thy fins were pardoned ; thou art weighed in the balance, and art found too light ; therefore it concerns you now to weigh your felves in the balance of the Sanctuary : when you weighgold, you muft not hold the Scales in the mid'ft of wind, forms, and tempeft that hurries the balance up and down ; but it muft be in fuch a place that you may hold them Readily that nothing may fir them ; for in the wind the lighter may be blown down, and the heavieft uppermoft ; but if you hold them in a fill place you may try to a grain fo the Soul of man is like the Scales in the wind, in a time of temptation thou wilt have enough to come in to turn the balance, lift it up, and make thee feem too light ; and therefore when you would weigh your condition, do it when your hearts are compofed , and you are your felves when your hearts are quiet, then lay your fouls to the balance : many weigh their hearts in a time when trouble and affliction is upon their fpirits, but they cannot do it , all they do then is nothing ; there are but two things ,
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