The Sincere Convert

fourthly, the understandings Security §4or sleepiness, whereby men never reflect upon their own actions, nor compare them with the rule; although they have knowledge of the law of God, yet it is with them, as it is with men that have a fair glass before them, but never beholding themselves in the glass, they never see their spots. This is the woe of most unregenerate men; they want a reflecting power & light to judg of themselves by, Jer. 8. 6. you shall ⟨p. 174⟩have them think on a Sermon, Here's for such an one, and such an one is •ouched here; when it may be the same Sermon principally speaks of them; But they never say, this concerneth me, I was found out through the goodness of the Lord to day, and surely the man spake unto none but unto me, as if some body had told him what I have done. And hence you shall find out many lame Christians, that will yield to all the truths delivered in a Sermon, and commend it too, but go a way, and shake off all truths that serve to convince them. And hence many men, when they examine themselves in general, whether they have grace or no, whether they love Christ or no, they think yes, that they do withal their hearts; yet, they neither have this grace or any other, what ever they think, because they want a reflecting light to judge of generals by their own particular courses. For, tell these men, that he that loves another truly, will often think of him, speak of him, rejoice in his company, ⟨p. 175⟩will not wrong him willingly in the least thing: Now ask them if they love Christ thus; If they have any reflecting of light, they will see, where they have one thought of Christ, they have 1000. on other things. Rejoice? nay they are weary of his company in word, in prayer. And that they do not only wrong him, but make a light matter of it, when it is done, all are sinners, and no man can live without sin. Like a sleepy man (fire burning in his bed-straw) he cries not out, when others haply lament his estate, that see a far off, but cannot help him, Isay, 42. 25. A man that is to be hanged the next day, may dream overnight, he shall be a King; why? because he is asleep, he reflects not on himself. Thou mayest go to the Devil and be damned, and yet ever think and dream, that all is well with thee. Thou hast no reflecting light to judge of thy self.