Now if we would practise this duty, we must labour to avoid the hin- drances. The main hindrances of this consideration are,
(1.) The rar/e of Jmts, that will not give the judgment leave to consider of a man's ways ; but they are impetuous, commanding, and tyrannous, cirrying men, as we shall see in the next clause, 'as the horse rusheth into the battle.' We see many carried to hell that never enjoyed them- selves, but are alway under some base pleasure. When the devil hath filled them with one pleasure, then they project for another, and never take time to say, * What have I done ? ' Oh the tyranny of original corruption ! If we had in our eye the vile picture of our nature, that carries us to things present, to profits and pleasures, and gives us not liberty and leisure to bethink ourselves, would we do as we do ? Alas ! we see some men so haunted with their lusts that they cannot be alone, they cannot sleep ; and when they are awake they must have music, as that king when he mas-
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sacred a world of men, he could not be quiet a whit, conscience raged so.* When men follow their pleasures, they rob them of themselves. Therefore they are said in Scripture to be madmen, and fools without wit. They are so taken up with the rage of their lusts that they have not liberty to enjoy themselves, they have no time for consideration.
(2.) And then another hindrance is too viuch business, when men are distracted with the things of this life. They are overloaded with cares, with Martha's part, and so neglect Mary's part. This makes men toil and droilf for the world, and never consider where they are nor whither they go, how it shall be with them when they go hence, how the case stands with them before God, whether they be gotten out of the cursed state of nature that we are all born in. They never think of this, but all the marrow and strength of their souls is eaten out with the world. Those that in their youth followed their lusts, when they come to years are taken up with the world, and slight religion. Their minds are employed how to get the favour of this man and that, and so have not leisure to consider what will become of their souls. Therefore too much distraction with the things of the world is joined with drunkenness : ' Be not overcome with the cares of this life, with surfeiting and drunkenness,' saith Christ, Luke xxi. 34.
(3.) Then, it is a secret and hard action ; because it is to work upon a man's self. It is an easy matter to talk of others, to consider other men'a ways. You shall have men's tongues ready to speak of other men ; they do so and so. And thus they feed themselves with talking, of other men, and in the mean time neglect the consideration of their own state. And again, it is a plausible thing. He that talks of other men's faults gives an inti- mation that he is innocent, and he had need be so. It is easy and plausible. Men glory in it. It feeds corrupt nature to talk of other men's faults, but to come home to a man's self, that is a hard thing. It is without ostentation or applause. The world doth not applaud a man for speaking of his own faults. Men are not given to retired actions. They care not for them, unless they have sound hearts ; and this being a retired action, that hath no glory nor credit with it, men are loath to come to it.
(4.) Then, again, it is not only hard and secret, but this returning upon a man's self, it presents to a man a spectacle that is unwelcome. If a man consider his own ways, it will present to him a terible object. Therefore as the elephant troubles the waters, that he may not see his own visage, so men trouble their souls, that they may not see what they are. They shall see such a deal of malice and self-love, and fear and distrust, that they would not have others in the world to see for anything. But it is good to see it ; for repentance and consideration it is physic, it is sharp but whole- some. It is better to have the physic a day than to have the sickness and disease all the year. So this consideration and repentance, though it be sharp, yet take it down, for it will prevent God's eternal judgment ; as the apostle saith, ' If we would judge and condemn ourselves, we should not be condemned with the world,' 1 Cor. xi. 31. What an excellent thing is this, that we may keep sessions in our own souls, and so need not be called to God's assizes ! Men are called to that, because they slubber over and neglect this. Men will not keep this sessions in their own hearts — which theyjnight do not only quarterly, but daily — and thereby they make work for God. Is it not better now to unrip our consciences by consideration and repentance, than to have all ripped up then, when the devil shall stand * Cf. nolo, Vol. 1. pago 149.— G. t That is, ' drudge.'— G.