The unbelievers preparing for Christ. By T.HThe vnbeleevers preparing for Christ. By T.H

The second use is an use of examination, namely from the former doctrine delivered, every soul that heareth the word this day, if they will de•• plainly with their souls may understand what their condition is; you may read your own estates, whether you be natural men or spiritual, whether gracious or graceless men; what wouldst thou know then, whether thou art a natural man […] no? and if thou beest so, woe be unto thee. The trial is easy in this kind, observe what disposition thou hast to the things of God, observe whether thy soul be affected with them, whether thy soul can give entertainment to them? the […] ⟨p. 111⟩man cannot receive the things of God, if thou beest a natural man, thou then canst not receive grace nor entertain Christ and salvation, so then canst thou find that if pleasures come, then thy heart giveth way to them? if profits come, then thy heart is transported with the love thereof? Is thy soul enlarged to these things? dost thou love and desire them? canst thou swallow down all, entertain all, digest all very willingly in this kind? never too much riches, never too much honour, never too much profit, never too much pleasure, is thy soul thus disposed? But when the word calleth for repentance, when the Gospel calleth for self denial at thy hand, & the Lord Jesus would rule in thy heart, when the Lord would take away all thy sins, and all thy corruptions, is it so now that thy heart is weary to hear the se• is it so that thou canst not give way to these? then the case is clear, thou art in a natural estate, for the Lords sake take notice of it; natural things please thee, profits and pleasures, sins and corruptions please thee, but thou canst not away with the things of the Spirit; thou art therefore a natural man, there is therefore no room for Christ in thy soul, therefore there is no true grace yet wrought in thy soul. In the 8. of the Rom. 5. […] saith the Text, They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the spirit, the things of the Spirit. Now observe therefore what relish thou findest in the things […] •••• low; canst thou relish base courses and ill •••• pany? ⟨p. 112⟩