Religion & morality > Human nature in its four-fold state ... in several practical discourses

136 Mens overlooking the State IT.
to the Lord, that they tbemfelves were not Perfons
left to be fuch Spectacles of human Frailty. (3.)
There are not a few, who, Jf they be kept from Af¬
flictions in worldly Things, and from grofs Out-
breakings in their Conyerfation, know not what it
is to have a fad Heart. If they meet with a Crofs,
which their proud Hearts cannot ftoop to bear,
they’ll be ready to fay, O to be gone : But' the Cor¬
ruption of their Nature never makes them long for
Heaven. Lufls fcandalouily breaking out at a
Time, will mar their Peace : But the Sm of their
Nature never make's them a heavy Heart. (4.) De¬
laying Repentance, in hopes to fet about it af¬
terwards. Many have their own appointed Time
for Repentance and Reformation : As if they were
fpeh compleat Mailers over their Lulls, that they
can allow them to gather more Strength, and yet
overcome them- They take up Refolutions to a-
trtend, without an Eye to Jefus Qhrifi, Union with
him, and Strength from him j a plain Evidence they
are Strangers to themfelves: And fo they are left
to themfel’ves, and their flourishing Refolutions wi¬
ther ; ior as they fee not the Neceffity, fo they get
list the Benefit of the Dew from Heaven to wa¬
ter them. (5.) Mens venturing frankly on Temp¬
tations, and ptomifihg liberally oa their own Heads.
They call themlelves' fearlejly into Temptation, in
Confidence o their doming oft fairly : But were
they fallible of ihz Corrupt ion of their Nature, they’d
beware'of entrtng on the Devil’s Ground : As one
girt about with Bags of Gun-powder, would be
loath to walk where Sparks of Fire are flying, left
he flloiild be blown up. Self-jealoufing well becomes
Chriftians. Lord is it J? They that know the
Deed:: of their Bow, will not be very confident
' : that