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An
Enquiry
after
a
mans 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
to
mens
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
of
a
Mi-
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 would
not
have
Gods
Mi-
nifters
fee
what
they
do nor
fee
what
they are.
I
confeffe
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
who
mifìnform 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
faith
he,/
will
tellyou all
that
I
kn)w
of
my
fel
f;
l'le
not
hide
a fyllable from
you
:
and
if
I
be
yet
no
bet-
ter
then
a
wretch, 16efeech
you tell
me
plainly
that
I
am fo
;
and
if
I
be
in
Chrifl,
I
befeech you
prove
it plainly
unto 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
one
his
portion,
If
you had
but
a
cut
finger, would
you
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