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4
I
An
Enquiry
a
fter
a
mans
e
ate.
Col. 4.
S.
Z'
fes.
I
.
Inflruc`l.
Fourthly,
we are teachers, and
therefore
we
mutt know the
ettate
of
our people
:
otl:erwife
we
are
ignorant what doctrine
to provide
for
them, what points
to
handle among
them. Paul
in
this Epiftle
to
the Colofíians, knowing onely their
elate
in
the
genefall, delivereth abundance
of
general! precepts and
ex-
hortations unto
them
:
he
defcribeth
unto
them the myttery
of
Chrift,
admonifheth
them
to
continue
aedfatt
therein,
to
em-
brace the
preaching
of
the
Word,to
beware
of
Philofophy
and
the
vain
traditions
and fophiltry
of
men
;
take
heed of
doting
upon ceremonies,
which are
all
ended
in
Chriít,
to
fet
their
af-
fections on heaven,
to
mortifie the deeds
of
the
fleth,
to put
off
the old man
;
he
warneth them
to
be
loving
and humble
:
he
biddeth
wives
do
their
duties
to
their
husbands,
and husbands
to
love
their wives; children
to
obey
their
parents,
and
parents
to
encourage their children
;
fervants
to
obey
their matters,
and
matters
to
deal well
with their fervants
;
all
to
continue
in
prayer
,watchfulneffe,thankfgiving
;
to
walk
wifely
towards
them
that
are
without,
to
be
careful!
of
godly
and holy com-
munication
:
Thus
knowing their ettate
only
for
the general
he
teacheth them
in
general, and
therfore now
he
concludeth,
as
if
he
Ihould
fay,
l
peak,
fomewhat
generally becaufe
I
do
not know
your
ell
ate,:
in
particular;and
therefore
I
fend
to
you
Tychicus, a
faithful
good
minifler,
that
he may
learn your
eflates
in
particular,
and
deal
with
you
anfiverab
y. It
may
be
fome
of
you
want corro-
fives
;
it
may
be
force
of
you want cordials
;
it
maybe
force have
need to
be
fearched and humbled,
force
of
you to
be
encouraged
and
comforted
:
I
have
feet
him
to
enquire
into
your
Oates
in
par-
ticular,
that
he
may
do
accordingly, Whom
I
have fens
unto
you
for
the
fame
purpoCe,
that
he
may
know
your
efl
ate and
comfort
your
hearts.
The
ufe
of
this
is
threefold.
Firft,
for
inttrudion.
Hence
we may
fee
that
a
Minuter doth
but
his
duty
when
he enquireth
into
mens
effaces
bow they Rand
before
God
:
It
is
not
prying
into other
mens
matters;
it
is
not
bufi.bodineffe
in
other
mens
affairs;
it
is
not
a
fpirit
of
meddling
:
No,
a
Minifter
doth
but
his
duty when
he
doth
it.
How