The Souls Looking Glass 2, Tract 1
An Enquiry after a mans eſtate before God.
COLOSS. 4.8.
Whom I have ſent unto you for the ſame purpoſe, that he may know your eſtate and comfort your hearts.
THE eſtate of a man before God is the relation that he ſtandeth in unto God,What a mans eſtate before God is. as God is the free fountain of ſpirituall life and ſalvation, and the …terminer of mens everlaſting condi…ons either in heaven or hell: So that …en we queſtion about a mans eſtate, … queſtion, Whether he be in Chriſt … not; Whether he have true grace, … or no; Whether he be one of Gods …ldren or no, or whether he be yet … better then a reprobate.
There be three things to be conſidered in this definition of every man eſtate. Firſt, it is a relation unto God not as a man is in himſelf, it may b… rich, it may be poore in the world; bu… I ſpeak here as he is in relation toward God, Whether he be rich toward God, yea or no. I do not ſpeak as man is in regard of others; it may b… he is a father or a ſonne, a maſter o… a ſervant, a king or a ſubject: but i… relation to God, Whether Gods ſervant or no,Rom. 16.10. Gods child or no. Salu… Apelles, ſaith Paul; and he telleth us i… what eſtate Apelles was in before Go… namely, in an eſtate of approbatio… approved in Chriſt. And the ſame Apoſtle ſpeaketh on the contrary of th… unconverted Gentiles, that they wer… ſtrangers from the life of God, Epheſ. 4▪ 18.Epheſ. 4.18. Secondly, As it is a relation unt… God, ſo it is a ſtanding relation: Tha… wherein he ſtandeth towards God, tha… is a mans eſtate before God. There a difference between one that doth … and one that is in the ſtate of ſin: … child of God may ſinne, but he is n… in a ſtate of ſinne; you cannot call hi… a wicked man. So alſo there is difference between one that doeth. ſome good actions and one that is in a good eſtate: A carnall man may do ſome good …hings, but he is not in a good eſtate. The eſtate of a man is a ſtanding thing, it is the relation that he ſtandeth in towards God. Thirdly, It is the relation that a man ſtandeth in towards God as he is the free fountain of ſpirituall life and ſalvation. It is not every ſtanding relation towards God: For a man may be conſidered in relation to God as a Creatour, and ſo the heavens and the earth and the very brute beaſts ſtand in relation to God as they are his creatures; but they have not this eſtate that we ſpeak of, which is a relation to God as the free giver of ſpirituall life and ſalvation (He is free, he may chooſe whether he will give it or no.) Now this is a mans eſtate, the relation he ſtandeth in unto God, Whether the Lord hath given him his ſaving grace, yea or no; ſpirituall life in Chriſt Jeſus, yea or no; title to heaven and ſalvation, yea or no? this is the meaning when we ſpeak of a mans eſtate. It is ſaid of Sodom,Gen. 13.13. They were ſinners before God: that is, they were in a bad eſtate, a ſtate of ſinne. It is ſaid of Zachary and Eliſabeth,Luke 1.6. They were both right…s before God; that is, they were both in a very good ſtate.
Obſerv. Miniſters are to enquire after the eſtate of their people.All Chriſtians believe that there is a God: It behoveth every one now to conſider in what eſtate he ſtandeth to this God. This is a great queſtion that we which are miniſters ought to demand of our people, to know their eſtates.
Reaſons 1 Firſt, becauſe we are ſhepherds, and are bound to look well how it ſtandeth with our flock. If we do not labour to know your eſtates, we can never look well to your ſouls. Conſider that place in the Proverbs,Prov. 27.23. Be diligent to know the ſtate of thy flock, and look well to thy herds. Where the wiſe man firſt requireth that we ſhould look well to our flocks, and then directeth us in the manner how, viz. by being diligent to know their eſtate how it ſtandeth with them.
Reaſons 2 Secondly, we are Gods labourers … and we muſt know in what eſtate our work ſtandeth: elſe we may labour and labour and all in vain; we may preach and …hort and call upon our people to heare and to believe and obey, and all this may ſtill be in vain, if we do not enquire in what eſtate they are. This is the reaſon why Paul could not forbear ſending and enquiring how it ſtood with the Theſſalonians,1. Theſſ. 3.5. in what eſtate they were in, how it went with their faith, whether they kept it or no, leſt the tempter had tempted them, and his labour ſhould have been in vain; for ſo it had been for all his preaching and reaching them if they had not been in a good eſtate: therefore he ſent to know.
Reaſons 3 Thirdly, we are to take the care and the charge of your ſouls: Now then how can we be quiet if we do not know in what eſtate your ſouls be? A good father cannot be at quiet if he do not know how it is with his children: How if they ſhould be ſick? how if undone? Oh it would comfort a good father to know his children to be in good caſe: But if it were otherwiſe with them, though it would grieve him much, yet he had rather know it then not; for if he know it he can better tell what to do. So it was with the Apoſtle; his very bowels yerned upon the Philippians,Philip. 2.19. Oh my poore people, thought he, I wonder what eſtate they be in. How if they totter? how if they miſcarry? how if the devil have tempted them to ſinne and to apoſtatize? how if they be in trouble of conſcience? He could never be at quiet till he knew their eſtate: I truſt in the Lord Jeſus, ſaith he, to ſend Timotheus ſhortly unto you, that I alſo may be of good comfort when I know your eſtate. He had a great care of their ſouls, and therefore it would comfort his heart to know what eſtate they were in.
Reaſons 4 Fourthly, we are teachers, and therefore we muſt know the eſtate of our people: otherwiſe we are ignorant what doctrine to provide for them, what points to handle among them. Paul in this epiſtle to the Coloſſians, knowing onelyonly their eſtate in the generall, delivereth abundance of generall precepts and exhortations unto them: …he deſcribeth unto them the myſtery of Chriſt, admoniſheth them to continue ſtedfaſt therein, to embrace the preaching of the word, to beware of philoſophy and the vain traditions and ſophiſtry of men, to take heed of doting upon ceremonies, which are all ended in Chriſt, to ſet their affections on heaven, to mortifie the deeds of the fleſh, 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; ſervants to obey their maſters, and maſters to deal well with their ſervants; all to continue in prayer, watchfulneſſe, thankſgiving, to walk wiſely towards them that are without, to be carefull of godly and holy communication: Thus knowing their eſtate onelyonly for the generall he teacheth them in generall, and therefore now he concludeth, as if he ſhould ſay,Col. 4.8. I ſpeak ſomewhat generally becauſe I do not know your eſtates in particular; and therefore I ſend to you Tychicus, a faithfull good miniſter, that he may learn your eſtates in particular, and deal with you anſwerably. It may be ſome of you want corroſives; it may be ſome of you want cordials; it may be ſome have need to be ſearched and humbled, ſome of you to be encouraged and comforted: I have ſent him to enquire into your eſtates in particular, that he may do accordingly. Whom I have ſent unto you for the ſame purpoſe, that he may know your eſtate and comfort your hearts.
Vſes.The uſe of this is threefold.
1. Inſtruct.Firſt, for inſtruction. Hence we may ſee that a miniſter doeth but his duty when he enquireth into mens eſtates how they ſtand before God: It is not prying into other mens matters; it is not buſie-bodineſſe in other mens affairs; it is not a ſpirit of meddling: No, a miniſter doeth but his duty when he doeth it. How can a Phyſician apply true and proper phyſick unleſſe he enquire into the ſtate of mens bodies? Now a miniſter is a phyſician to mens ſouls;Jer. 8.12. and therefore he is to enquire of the ſtate of mens ſouls how they ſtand before God. They are men of Belial that ſay, What? muſt the miniſter know …ll? and, Can there be nothing done but the miniſter muſt heare of it? Theſe are ve…y evil ſpeeches. The miniſter doeth but his duty when he is inquiſitive.
The ſecond uſe may be for reproof.2. Reproof. If it be the duty of a miniſter to enquire of mens eſtates before God, then thoſe people are too blame that wil not make known their eſtates. What is the rea…on that ſo many men abide in a rotten ſtate, but becauſe they are loth to o…en truly and fully what they are to Gods miniſters? Nay many are like …hem in the prophet, who ſay to the ſeers, Iſai. 30.10.…ee not. They would not have Gods miniſters ſee what they do, nor ſee …hat they are. I confeſſe there be …ome that will open ſomething about …heir eſtates, but not all they know …y themſelves: They keep in the main; …ke ſome fooliſh clients who miſ…form their Counſel, making their …aſe better then indeed it is, and ſo …heir cauſe miſcarrieth: So ſome keep in that which would give moſt light to judge of their eſtates: But this ought not ſo to be. I can tell you an example of one that being troubled about his eſtate before God, and ſome miniſters being by, Oh, ſaith he, I will tell you all that I know of my ſelf; I'le not hide a ſyllable from you: and, if I be yet no better then a wretch, I beſeech you tell me plainly that I am ſo; and if I be in Chriſt, I beſeech you prove it plainly unto me. This man took a right courſe, and thereby through Gods mercy came in a little ſpace to the aſſurance of his own bleſſed eſtate and condition.
3. Exhortation.Thirdly, for exhortation. Let Gods miniſters know of your eſtates, that they may be able to ſpeak to you accordingly. By this means they may ſpeak words in due ſeaſon, and like wiſe houſe-holders give every one his portion. If you had but a cut finger, would not you be glad to have the right plaſtre? and if you had a burning fev… would you not deſire the right rem… dy? how much more in the curing the ſickneſſe of the ſoul?
Now from the text it ſelf without …ny cutting up of the words we may …ather foure propoſitions:
1. That there is an eſtate that every man is in, either an eſtate of grace or an …ſtate of ſin.
2. That this ſtate may be known.
3. That every man ſhould be wil…ing to have his eſtate examined, that it may be known whether it be good or …o.
4. That a man can never have true …omfort till it be known that he is in a …ood eſtate.
1. For the firſt,Obſerv. 1. That there is an eſtate that every one is in, either of grace or ſin; See this in Simon Magus:Acts 8.23. I per…eive, ſaith S. Peter, thou art in the gall of bitterneſse and in the bond of iniquity. See, he telleth him what eſtate he was …n, viz. a very bad eſtate, in a deſperate and damnable condition. In this ſtate of ſin and miſery are all they that are not renewed by Chriſt Jeſus. And for the other ſee an example, Rom. 16.7. Salute Rufus choſen in the Lord: Rom. 16.7.The text there telleth us what eſtate he was in, a very good eſtate; He was a man in Chriſt, a choiſe man, that is, a man in the ſtate of grace and ſalvation. In this eſtate are all they that are called and ſanctified and made new creatures unto God. Every man is in one of the two eſtates: there is no middle eſtate which is neither the one nor the other, but in one of theſe two are all the whole world. The reaſon is,
1. From everlaſting the world was divided onelyonly into two ranks, either Elect or Reprobates.
2. Here in this life the world is divided onelyonly into two companies, either Godly or Ungodly.
Matth. 25.32.3. At the day of judgement the Lord will divide the whole world onelyonly into two ſorts, either Sheep or Goats.
2. Prop. Election may be known.II. For the ſecond propoſition, This eſtate may be known: Eſpecially every man may come to the knowledge of his own eſtate before God. I do not ſay that every man may know whether he be elect or reprobate: yet this I ſay too, That a godly ſoul may know th… …is elected to life. The Apoſtle exhor…th all that are godly to give diligence … make their election ſure, 2. Pet. 1.10. …e that atteineth to that faith which …e Apoſtle calleth the faith of Gods e…t, Titus 1.1. and receiveth the word … God, as Paul ſaith the Theſſalonians …d, and thence concludeth they were …oſen of God, 1. Theſſ. 1.4, 5. he …ay attein to much aſſurance of his e…tion. But though a godly man may …ow he is elected of God, yet for re…obation the caſe is not alike: 1. Be…uſe ungodlineſſe is not alwayes joyn… with perſeverance. 2. Beſides, …od hath many reaſons why he doth …t reveal mens reprobation unto …m: They would then be outragious … evil, deſperate in wickedneſſe; …ere could be no order or government humane life: Beſides that, the form … Chriſts adminiſtration of his king…me could not be ſo as it now is: for …hriſt hath bid his miniſters preach the …oſpel to every creature, to whole …riſhes and towns, and except none: …hriſt will not tell his miniſters which be reprobates and which not, that the may preach unto all, and labour t… work upon every ſoul; and there i… none in a pariſh but the miniſter mu… look upon him as one who may be ſaved: Chriſt will not tell his peopl… which be reprobates, that they ma… look upon every one as one that may b… wonne to the faith for any thing the… know: Chriſt will not tell the reprobates themſelves that they are reprobates, that every one of them ma… come to the uſe of the means; Ho… do they know but they may find grace yea, and the Lord doth ſeriouſly ca… them; and it is their fault if they obe… not. It is Gods infinite mercy, that … lection, which is ſuch a comfortabl… point, may be revealed to Gods children; and that reprobation, which i… ſo intolerable and bitter, is not reveale… to the reprobate. Nevertheleſſe let m… adde, That ſome particular men hav… known their own reprobation, as Ca… and Judas, &c. And there be ſhrew… ſignes of it:Shrewd ſignes of it. (I do not ſpeak it as thoug… I meant to perſwade any man that …e …ne, but onelyonly that he may take heed …f them.)
1. Malicing the known truth is a ve… ſhrewd ſigne: As, when men know …at godlineſſe is pleaſing to God, and …et they hate a man for it; when men …ow the miniſter is commanded to re…uke ſin, and yet they will ſpite him …or ſo doing: this is a very ſhrewd …gne. Paul perſecuted the truth; but …t, ſaith he, I obteined mercy, becauſe I …d it ignorantly, 1. Tim. 1.13. intima…ng that if he had done it againſt know…dge he had been in danger to have …und no mercy. And therefore ye …hat mock and hate thoſe wayes which …od hath commanded, I beſeech you, …ke heed leſt ye ſin unpardonably.
2. Abſolute apoſtaſie is a ſhrewd …gne too of reprobation: When men …ave been very forward in the profeſſi…n of the truth, and fall totally away …nd prove miſerably profane, as the A…oſtle ſheweth, Heb. 6.6.
3. Finall impenitency. This is an …nfallible ſigne of reprobation, when a man liveth in ſin dieth in ſin, and goeth away without repentance. Luke 13.… Except ye repent ye ſhall all likewiſe periſ… There be many of us have ſtood ou… long in impenitency; let us take hee… leſt if we ſtay any longer we fall upo… this great evil.
That a man may know his eſtate, proved.I return to the point: A man may come to the knowledge of his own eſtate before God. I do not mean, Whether he be in the ſtate of election or reprobation; but he may know, Whether he be in the ſtate of ſalvation or damnation, that is, Whether he be in the way that leadeth to heaven o… hell, Whether he be in ſuch a caſe tha… if he die now he ſhall be ſaved or no… ſaved: Every man may thus know in what eſtate he is;
Reaſons I 1. Becauſe the word of God ſheweth a man this:1. John 3.8. As for example, He tha… committeth ſinne is of the devil. Mark; the Apoſtle telleth us what eſtate that man is in that liveth in ſinne, in a very bad eſtate.1. John 3.3. So on the contrary; He that hath this hope purgeth himſelf. Mark; the Apoſtle telleth us what eſtate that man is in who purgeth himſelf; he is in very good eſtate, in a ſtate of true hope in Chriſt. And ſo 1. Cor. 6.10. the Apoſtle nameth divers who are not …n the ſtate of ſalvation but of damna…ion: if they die in ſuch caſe they can…ot inherit the kingdome of heaven. So …hat if a man will but ſearch the word, …nd believe that God doth ſay true, he may know his eſtate.
Reaſons II 2. Without this knowledge a man …annot have an accuſing or an excuſing …onſcience in reſpect of his eſtate: but …en may have, yea many men have, a …onſcience accuſing them of being in a …ery bad eſtate; and many men have …n excuſing conſcience that plainly …oth witneſſe that they are in a very …ood and gracious eſtate.Exod. 9.27. I and my peo…le are wicked, ſaith Pharaoh. His con…cience did accuſe him of being in a bad …tate. I am holy, ſaith David;Pſal. 86.2 I am thy …rvant. His conſcience told him he …as in the ſtate of grace. So that ye …eed not go farre to know what eſtate …ou are in: there is that in your bo…ome that can decide the matter.
Reaſons III 3. Men cannot deſire nor flie from an unknown eſtate: But men are commanded to flie from a bad eſtate, and ſeek out a good one: Therefore they may know the one and the other.Matth. 3.7, 8. O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flie from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance, ſaith John to the Phariſees. He ſuppoſeth theſe men might eaſily know that they were in a very bad eſtate, or elſe how could he ſay thus unto them?
Before I come to the Uſes let us conſider theſe three things:
1. That every man living is born in a very bad eſtate. We all know it well; but oh that we would conſider it!Eph. 2.3. We are all by nature children of wrath. Now here lieth the queſtion, When did we change our eſtates? We are in the ſame ſtate of damnation wherein we were born except we are come out of it. I ſay, here lieth the queſtion, Whether we are come ou… of it or no, whether we have mended our eſtate.
2. Conſider that the greateſt part o… the world never mend their eſtates▪ But as they were born in a curſed eſtate, …o they live and die in it. And I ſpeak …ot this of heathen onelyonly; but alas! …ow many in the viſible church do ſo? …ow many were there in the church of Philippi whom the Apoſtle could not …hink of without weeping when he …onſidered in what eſtate they were.Phil. 3.17 So …n the church of Corinth,1. Cor. 1.26. not many wiſe, not many rich, not many noble …alled; but commonly the meaneſt in …he eye of the world were in the beſt e…ate towards God. Nay more then ſo; Many of them who ſeek to get into a …ood eſtate miſſe of it and periſh. See, …uke 13.24. Strive to enter in at the ſtrait …te: Mark; it's a ſtrait gate, and letteth …ut few in: for many ſhall ſeek to enter in …ad ſhall not be able. Here and there a few …en where the conſtant miniſtery is.
3. Conſider that it is a marvellous …rd thing to paſſe from ſtate unto …ate, from a bad to a good eſtate. There … a very vaſt gulf between the ſtate of …nne and the ſtate of grace, and it is …arvellous hard to paſſe it. Theſe …hings premiſed, the uſes follow.
eſtate; they were in a ſtate of juſtification: & from the knowledge thereof they had peace. We are bound to get tru… peace to our conſciences: Oh, what … lamentable maze are we in till our conſciences have peace! and this they cannot have untill we are fully acquainte… in what caſe we ſtand before God:Job 22.21 Acquaint thy ſelf with God, and be at peace.
3. Thirdly, we can never be fit fo… any duty of Gods worſhip as long a… we know not what eſtate we are in… We can never be fit for any holy duty to heare, pray, receive the ſacrament Let a man examine himſelf, 1. Cor. 11.28.and ſo let him eat, &c. Firſt he muſt examine in wha… eſtate he is before he can be fit for tha… high ſervice.Lam. 3.40. So for repentance: Le… us ſearch and try our wayes, and turne gain to the Lord: firſt find our ſelves i… an ill eſtate, and then return. So fo… joy; It is a duty to rejoyce in th… Lord: But we are never fit for rejoycing till we have proved what eſtate w… are in:Gal. 6.4. Let every man prove his ou… work; ſo ſhall he have rejoycing. We ca… never be fit for any duty until we know …n what eſtate we are in, becauſe every duty varieth according as the eſtate of every man is. To inſtance in prayer; He that is not in the ſtate of grace muſt …ray one way, and he that is in the …tate of ſalvation muſt pray another way: the one, that he may be converted and brought home to God; the other, that he may be ſtrengthened and encreaſed in grace. And ſo for the duty of hearing, &c.
The ſecond uſe is for direction;Vſe 2. Of Direction. Means to know what eſtate we are in. to let us underſtand by what means we may know what eſtate we are in. There be foure means to know this.
1. By our outward and inward actions. I do not ſay, by our outward actions: For a man may be in the ſtate of hypocriſie, and yet his outward actions may be good. Neither do I ſay by our inward actions alone: For a man may be in the ſtate of ſelf-deceit, and yet ſay his heart is good and his meaning and mind good. But I ſay, by them both put together. Our Saviour ſetteth it out by a tree;Matth. 7.17. Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit: but a corrupt tree bringeth forth corrupt fruit. So if the hear… bringeth forth the fruit of righteouſneſſe, joy in good things, patience meekneſſe, gentleneſſe, love, obedience, godly converſation, &c. theſe evidence a good eſtate: but if the heart bringeth forth deadneſſe, earthlineſſe, impatience, evil converſation, &c. theſe are corrupt fruits and ſignes of a very bad eſtate.
2. Ye may know what eſtates ye are in by your inclinations and diſpoſitions, from whence theſe actions proceed.Pſal. 119.112. Are your hearts inclined heaven-ward and God-ward, as Davids? are ye bent to holineſſe and ſelf-deniall, &c. as a bow is bent to ſhoot the arrow? This is a ſigne of a good eſtate: as 1. Chron. 22.19. there is ſpeech of ſetting the heart to ſeek God. Ye know when a man will do a thing indeed, we ſay he is ſet on't. It may be ye do ſome good duties, make ſome fair offers of ſeeking God; but are your hearts ſet on't? or are they ſet on the world and inclined earth-ward? The inclinations of every creature in the world do ever ſhew what the creature is. How do we know that a ſtone is heavy? Becauſe it inclineth downward. How do we know a man is cholerick? Becauſe he …s inclined unto wrath. So a mans eſtate may be known by his conſtant inclination either to good or evil.
3. One may know what eſtate he is in by that reflexive act which is proper onelyonly to man. There is an act in mans ſoul (we call it a reflex act) which no creature hath but onelyonly man, whereby he can perceive what himſelf is and doeth. When a man thinketh or ſpeaketh, he can reflect upon himſelf and perceive what he thinketh or ſpeaketh: when he prayeth, he can reflect upon his own heart, and perceive how it carrieth it ſelf all along in his prayers. I ſay, no creature in the world hath in it …his reflexive act but onelyonly man. The …ire burneth, but it cannot reflect upon its own burning: Oculus non videt ſe …videre, The eye ſeeth, but it doth not ſee that it doth ſee; that is, That crea…ure doth not perceive what it doeth when it ſeeth. But every man hath this reflexive act in him, whereby he is privie to what himſelf thinketh, doeth, is None knoweth the things of a man ſave the ſpirit of a man that is in him. 1. Cor. 2.11.This is the reaſon why ſome know not what eſtate they are in, becauſe they choke their own ſpirit and hoodwink their conſciences. Thine own heart knoweth how it is with thee, and would faithfully tell thee if thou wouldſt enquire of it and hearken unto it. Search with Gods candle, and thou mayſt eaſily find what is in thee.Prov. 20.27. The ſpirit of a man is the candle of the Lord, ſearching all the inward parts of the belly.
4. Ye may know what eſtate ye are in by a certain kind of feeling. As there is a kind of bodily feeling whereby every man knoweth the eſtate of his body whether he be ſick or in health, ſo there is a ſpirituall feeling.Luke 24.32. The two diſciples did feel their hearts burn: Paul did feel a great combat in him between the fleſh and the ſpirit:Eph. 4.19. So if men be covetous and worldly, they may feel it. Yet indeed ſome men be paſt feeling; Their caſe is the worſe becauſe they cannot feel how bad it is: But for the moſt, they may eaſily feel what their eſtate is.
The third uſe is,Vſe 3. Impediments. to ſhew you the impediments that hinder this knowledge. If you would attein to know what eſtate you are in, then remove the impediments; which are
1. Vain thoughts. Men who are in a ſtate of ſin and wrath, yet have many vain thoughts lodging within them keeping them from knowing it: God is mercifull; and Chriſt died for ſinners; and, There be worſe ſinners then they; why ſhould they think ſo ill of themſelves? and, they may be better all in good time: Theſe vain thoughts hoodwink their eyes that they cannot ſee their eſtate, nor reſolve that it is ſo dangerous as indeed it is. O Jeruſalem, Jer. 4.14.waſh thy heart from wickedneſſe: how long ſhall theſe vain thoughts lodge within thee? They were in a very bad eſtate; and yet they had ſuch vain thoughts that they could not ſee it.
2. Preſumption is another impediment. Men pray, and heare, and do other good duties, and ſo take all to be well without ſerious examining. This was the caſe of the Laodicean people: They thought they had that in them which they had not,Rev. 3.17. and that their eſtate was good, when it was nothing ſo.
Another let are the Cares of this life: Whereby the heart is ſo occupied that it doth not find time to ſearch its own eſtate. Therefore our Saviour ſaith,Luke 21.34. Take heed that your hearts be not overcharged with the cares of this life, leſt that day come upon you unawares; intimating that theſe cares are great lets from conſidering our eſtates.
4. Another let is an Evil conſcience: which affrighteth a man ſo ſoon as he beginneth to ſtirre, and maketh him afraid to go on to look ſoundly into his eſtate.John 3.20. Rom. 3.11. He that doeth evil hateth the light.
5. Another let is Ignorance. There is none that underſtandeth, none that ſeeketh after God. Mark; they did not ſeek in what caſe they ſtood before God becauſe they did not underſtand.
6. Another let is Spirituall ſloth and ſluggiſhneſſe of heart. Men cannot en…ure to take pains with their own hearts till they have made out a true iudgement in what caſe they are: They …egin and quickly give over; and ſo for …vant of diligence and pains-taking …ake nothing ſure.
The laſt uſe is for exhortation;Vſe 4. Of Exhortation. That all men would beſtirre themſelves and ſet in earneſt upon this enquirie. That we may every one know in what ſtate we ſtand
1. Conſider, this is an enquiry about our ſouls. We enquire about our outward man, about the eſtate of our bodyes, and worldly affairs, &c. oh, let us not neglect this main enquiry, Am I in Christ, yea or no? Am I a new creature, yea or no? Doth my ſoul live to God or …o?
2. Conſider, this is a queſtion about our everlaſting eſtate. We can never have comfort untill we have put this out of queſtion: and therefore this is a queſtion which all queſtions muſt give way unto. If ye be not in Chriſt, ye had need lay aſide all and look about it onelyonly. How can men eat, drink, ſleep &c. ſith the wrath of God abidet… upon all unbelievers? Me thinks ou… ſouls ſhould take no content, do no thing elſe but faint after Chriſt, until we know our intereſt in him. I ſay again, This is the grand enquiry, that buſineſſe which all buſineſſes muſt give place unto. Oh, the ſloth of our ſouls! Let us in time awake and rouſe them up, and never reſt untill we know our own eſtate to be good before God, that ſo our hearts may have comfort, and that with God.