AnEnquiry afteramans eßate. 5 How can aPhyfician apply true and proper phyfick unlefs he ea- quire into the {late of mens bodies ? Now a Minifler is a Phy- jer. 8. i z. fician tomens fouls ; and therefore he is to enquire of the flare of mens fouls how they {land before God. Tney are men of Belial that fay, What ? muff the Minifler k oW all? and , Can there be nothing done brat the Minifler muff hear el it ? Thefe are very eviti fpeeches. The Minifter doth but his duty when he is inquifitive. The fecond ufe may be for reproof. 1f it be the duty ofaMi- 2. Re- nifler to enquire of mens effaces before God, then thole peo- proof. pie are too blame that will not make known their eflates. What is the reafon that fo many men abide in a rotten eftate, but becaufe they are loth to open truly and fully what they are EC) Gods Minifters ? Nay, many are like them in the Prophet, Who ray to the Seers, See not. They wouldnot have Gods Mi- nifters fee what they do nor fee what they are. Iconfeffe there be force that will open fomething about their eftates , but not all they know by themfelves: They keep in the main; like force foolifh clients whomifìnform their Counfel, making their cafe better then indeed it is, and fo their caufe mifcarrieth : So Tome keep in that which would give molt light to judge of their e- ftates : But this ought not fo to be. I can tell you an example of one that being troubled about his elate before God , and forre Minifters being by, Oh faithhe,/ will tellyou all that I kn)w ofmyfelf; l'le not hidea fyllable fromyou : and if I be yet no bet- ter then a wretch, 16efeechyou tell me plainly that I am fo ; and ifIbe in Chrifl, I befeech youprove it plainlyunto me. This man took a right courte, and thereby through Gods mercy camein a little fpace to the affurance of his own bleffed eftate and con- dition. Thirdly, for exhortation. Let Gods Minifters know of your eftates, that they may be able to fpeak to you accordingly. By this means they may fpeak words in due feafon, and likewife, houfholders give every onehis portion, If you had but a cut finger, wouldyou not be glad to have the right plaflre ? and if you had a burniug fever, would you not deure the right reme- dy? Ifai 30.10. 3. Ex- hortati- on
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