1. THe state of man since the fall of Adam is twofold. A state of sinne, and a state of grace Acts [gap]6. 18. [gap] Iohn 3. 10. 14.

2. The state of sinne consists in the privation of spirituall life, and happinesse. From this estate therefore we are to fly, as from death and the greatest evill: Concerning this state of sin the first question is, how a man may discerne, whither he do still continue in it?

3. Ans. The signes, o[gap] arguments, whereby this state may certainly be discern'd, are in generall, all those which are opposite to a state of grace, and spirituall life. For if a man be not in the one state, he must necessarily be in the other.

4. The first signe is a grosse ignorance of those things, which belong to spirituall life, Ep. 4. 18. for hereby▪ men are strangers to the life of God. The reason is because it is impossible that any man should please God without faith, Heb. 11. 6. And for Faith it is impossible to be had without the knowledge of the will of God, which comes by the preaching and hearing of the Word, Rom. 10. 14.

5. The second signe, is a perverse disposition of will wherby it is in subjection to the rule, and dominion of sin, Rom. 6. 12. The reason is because those who do yeild themselves servants to obey sin, are in a state of slavery to sin, unto death Rom. 6▪ 16.

6 Now the signes of raiging sinne, are first if a man do not seriously, and in good earnest, make opposition against the lusts of sinne, but rather yeild up himselfe unto them. Rom. 6. 13. Secondly, I[gap] in delibr[gap]ate counsell either profit, or pleasure be preferred by him, and prevaile more with [gap] ▪ then either honesty and piety, Phil. 3. 19. Thirdly, if the committing of sinne stir him up rather to pleasure, then griefe, Pro. 2. 14. Fourthly, if he take delight in the company of the wicked, Ps. 50. 18. 2 Cor. 6. 14.

7. The third signe, whereby it may be discerned whether a man be in the state of sinne, is the disposition of will, whereby a man opposeth himselfe, to the will of God, Rom. 8. 7.

8. The signes of this perverse disposition are, 1. To reject the knowledge of Gods wayes, Iob. 21. 14▪ 15. 16. 2. To hate correction, and instruction, Psal. 50▪ 17. 3. To contemne the threatnings, and judgements of God, Psalme 36. 1. 2. Dent. 29. 19.

9. The fourth signe, is perversnesse of the affections wherby men, turne away from God, and wholy cleave, and adhere, to worldly things, 1 Iohn. 2. 15.

10. The aversnesse of a man from God, is wont to be seene, 1. By his alination from the Word of God, especially when it is preacht to him powerfully 2 Tim. 4▪ 3. 4. 2. By a neglect of prayer, and other parts of Gods worship, Psal. 14. 3. 4. Psa. 79. 6. Ier. 10. 25. 3. By an alienation from the servants of God, Pro. 29. 27. 1. Iohn 3. 10.

11. The signes of a man cleaving to, and as it were drownd in the things of this world are, 1. If he imploy his chiefest care, and diligence about these things Mat. 6. 25. 31. 32. The reason is given Verse 21. & 24. for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 2. If he be ready rather to forsake God and his righteousnesse then these worldly things▪ Mat. 37. 38. 3. If he do in his heart judge those men to be happy which have an abundance of these worldly goods. Pro. 11 28. & 18. 11.

12. The fifth signe is the corruption of a mans life; or of the works of life Rom. 8. 13. This corruption of life doth not consist in those sins which even the godly sometimes through infirmity fall into, but in a continued course, and tenour of sinning. It is called in Scriptures the way of sinne, Psal. 1. 1. A working of iniquity, Mat. 7. 23. A walking in sinne, Psal. 1. 1. Pro. 1. 15. A walking after sinne, Jer. 9. 14. And a custome in sinne, Jer. 13. 23. These works of the flesh are manifest by themselves, Gal. 5. 19.

13. The sixt and the most desperate signe is, obstinancy in evill, whereby a man shuts and stops up the way to all amendment, Esay. 6. 9. 10. Ier. 6. 10.