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or that there is any great difference between one man and another, but that<br />
we are all Christians, and therefore need not trouble ourselves any further; or<br />
at least they know not wherein the difference lies. <strong>The</strong>y have as gross an idea<br />
of regeneration as Nicodemus had. Some will not believe that God will ever<br />
make such a difference betwixt men in the life to come, and therefore will<br />
not search themselves whether they differ here. Some are so stupefied, say<br />
what we can to them, that they lay it not to heart, but give us the hearing, and<br />
there is the end. Some are so possessed with self-love and pride, that they<br />
will not so much as suspect they are in danger; like a proud tradesman, who<br />
scorns the prudent advice of casting up his books; or like fond parents who<br />
will not believe or hear any evil of their children. Some are so guilty that<br />
they dare not try themselves, and yet they dare venture on a more dreadful<br />
trial. Some are so in love with sin, and so dislike the way of God, that they<br />
dare not try their ways, lest they be forced from the course they love to that<br />
which they loathe. Some are so resolved never to change their present state,<br />
that they neglect examination as a useless thing. Before they will seek a new<br />
way, when they have lived so long and gone so far, they will put their eternal<br />
state to hazard, come of it what will. Many men are so busy in the world that<br />
they cannot set themselves to the trying of their title to heaven. Others are so<br />
clogged with slothfulness of spirit that they will not be at the pains of an<br />
hour's examination of their own hearts. But the most common and dangerous<br />
impediment is that false faith and hope, commonly called presumption,<br />
which bears up the hearts of the greatest part of the world, and so keeps them<br />
from suspecting their danger.<br />
And if a man should break through all these hinderances, and set upon<br />
the duty of self-examination, yet assurance is not presently attained. Too<br />
many deceive themselves in their inquiries after it, through one or other of<br />
the following causes: there is such confusion and darkness in the soul of<br />
man, especially of an unregenerate man, that he can scarcely tell what he<br />
does, or what is in him. As in a house where nothing is in its proper place, it<br />
will be difficult to find what is wanted, so it is in the heart where all things<br />
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