Job, 3, to. Rom 3 , x i vfe 4. Of Ex- hortati- on. AnEnquiryafter a mans eflate, 2. Prefumption is another impediment. Men pray and hear and do other goodduties, and fo take all to be well without ferious examining. This was the cafe of theLaodicean people They thought they had that in themwhich they had not, and that their eftate was good, when it was nothing fo. Another let are the cares ofthis life . Whereby the heart is fo occupied that it doth not find time to fearch its own eftate, Therefore our Saviour faith, lake heed thatyour hearts be not over - charged with the cares ofthis life, left that they come upon you unawarer : intimating that theíè cares are great lets from confidering our eftates. 4, Another let is an evil confcience, which affrighteth a man fo loon ashe beginneth to ftirre, and maketh him afraid togo on to look foundly into his elate, He that loth evilhateth the light. 5. Another let is ignorance. There is none that underftand- eth, none that feeke. t hafter god. Mark ; they did not leek in what cafe they flood beforeGod, becaufe they did not under- fland. _ 6. Another let is,fpiritual cloth and fluggifhnefle ofheart.Men cannot endure to take pains with their own hearts til they have made out a true judgment in what cafe they are : They begin and quickly giveover; and fo for want of diligence and painf- taking make nothing lure. The )aft ufe is for exhortation : That all men would beflirre themfelves and fet in earneft upon this enquiry,That we may e- very one know in what flare «-e (land, r. Confider, this is an enquiry about our fouls. We enquire obout our outward man ,about the efiate of our bodies and worldly affairs, &c. Oh, let us not neglel this main enquiry, e.1m l in Chrift,yea or no ?4m Ia nett creature,yea or no ? Doth myfbullive to God or no':' 2. Confider, this is a queflion about our everlafling eftate. We can never have comfort until) we haveput this out ofque- flion : and therefore this is a que-lion which all queflions mua give way unto. Ifye be not in Chrifl, ye had need lay afide
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