aTer.4 our Jjiritual Condition. 279 it is well with them, and who plcafe themfelves in the thoughts of many to the fame purpofe. And he judgeth the Wire of force to be Goad, who are diffident in themfelvrs, and it may be defpifd by others. We may fingle out an Example or two in each kind. 1. Laodicea's Judgement of her felt, and her fpiritual (late we have, Revel. 3. 17. I am rich, and increafid with Goods, and have need of nothing. A fair !late it feems, a bleffed Con- dition. She wants nothing that may contribute to her reel, peace and reputation ; {he is Orthodox, and Numerous, and Flourifbing ; makes a fair profeffion, and all is well within. So P. e belives, fo the reports of her felt; wherein there is a fécret reflexion alfo upon others whom fhe defpifeth. Let them (bift as they lift, I am thus as I fay. But was it fo withher in- deed ? was that her true Condition whereof the was fo per- fwaded, as to profefs it unto all ? Let 3epee Chrili be heard to fpeak in this caufe, let him come and judge ? I will do fo, faith he, v. 14. Thus faith the Amen, the faithfua and true Wit- nefi. Coming to give fentence in a cafe of this importance, he gives hirnfelf this Title that we may know his Word is to be acquiefced in. Every man, faith he, is a Lyar ; Their Tetti- mony is of no value, let them pronounce what they will of themfelves, or of one another ; I am the Amen, and I will fee whole Word ¡hall (land, mine or theirs. What then faith he of Laodicea ? Thou art wretched, and miferable and poor, and blind , and naked. O wofull and fad difappointment ! O dreadfull furprizall ! Ah how many Laodicean Churches have we in the World ? How many Profe(brs are members of then Churches ? Not to mention the generality of men that live under the means of Grace, all which have Good hopes of their Eternal Condition whiled; they are dcfpifed and abhorred by the only Judge. Among Profeffort themfelves, it is dvadfull to think how many will be found light when they come to be weighed in this ballance. 2. Again, he Judgeth force to be in agood conditiote, be they themfelves never fo diffident ; Revel. 2. 9. faith he to the Church of Smyrna ; I know thy poverty ; Smyrna was complain- ing that' the was a poor contemptible Congregation, not fit for him
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