Ambrose - Houston-Packer Collection BX5200 .A49 1674

Chap. 3· SeCt. 7· ~- watcl)fulneffe. 103 ------ ~- Give not thatJvhich is holy unto dogs, .rzeither c~Jf yo11r pearls bef m·c [wine, leftthey trample them under t?~trfeet, an~ turn "'J.tH:' ~11d rent )fill: By D ogs are meant obJbnate Afar. 7 . 6 • enemies, that maltcwufly revtlc the Mmtftcrs of the \Vord, and the Metfengers . thereof : By Swine arc meant thofe fvttifh, fcurrile wretches, who fcornfully and contemptuoufly trample uodcr foot all holy lnthu<tlons, Reproofs, Admonition~>, tcndred unro them by any Chn lban out of the word of truth. Nvw tf acctdentally fuch a[on of Belial ; or fcofling Jjlmzacl, be_in our company, we are commanded by Chrill to fay nothing, at leall: of the confolatwns of Chrijl, of the fpectal promtfcs of Chrift, of the gentle entreaties of the Gofpel of Chri/1 : Confider this, and tremble, . all ye th~t are fcornful, and furious oppolitcs to the purity and power of the Word; it . is'the Lords will that you fhould run funoufly towards the pit of hell, and that no <body fhould thy you; not a n:an mull call and c~y unto you, to tell you offuch things · as are peculiar to the Saints, mway of appltcatwn to you: But he that is filthy, let him be filthyftill; let him drink.., be drunk.., defPair, dye, t<nd be damnd. All this while lflot a word ofcomfort belongs to you. Rev. u. ''· SE C T. 8. Of the manner of Watchf~tlnejfe over oter aCfidtis. { Natural, } O.Ur acti.ons are either Civil,_ In all which obferve thefe Dire<tions. · · Reltgwus. 1. Concerning Natural a<tions, as Eating, Drinking? -~lecping,. Vijitations, Remations, &c. no conltant Rule can be prefcrtbcd; becaufe tt IS much dtv~rlified by health, .ficknefs, age, conftitution ; and every one hath either learned by his own experience, what feafons, and proportions of fuch natural helps are fittefi for his tem-. perament, or he is moft unworthy of that precious thing (an Underftanding foul) whichhe bears in his bofom; only let me infor~ Chrill:ians, that they trtay ftp in any of thefe a'Ctions, and therefore let them beware and watch over themfclves in the ufe and enjoyment of thefe things ; which howfoever lawful in their own nature, yet by our corruption are capable of inordinatenefs and excetfe. Some are of opinion~ That Chrif!ians arc in more danger of being Spiritually undone, by a flie inlinuation and, enfnarement of licentioufnelfe and immodera:tidn. in fuch lawful things, than by the grotfe atfaults of foul finnes nod temptations ; their hearts may rife againft any work of darknefs, as Adultery, Murther, Swearing, Prophaning the Lords day, Speculative wantonnefs, &c. which yet may roo'often be ilifenlibly fei'z.ed 'upon, by ~n exceffive ftnful delight, in things unlinful in thcmfelves ; and therefore 'we had 'need to watch over our Natural actions. 2 . Concerning Civil actions,as Bdrgains,CbntraCfs,Covena'f!ts,Dealings,Nego'ti;ttionJ, &c. obferve thefe Directions. . r. Think we ferioufly an~ folemnly of that Ptinciple, Do_ M thou 't.ott!dejt be}lone by. In fellow-feelmg, real concett, put thy felf mto the place, and tmpartially put on the per– fan of the party with whom thou art to deal, and then returning to thy felf, Ileal out and _proportion unto him that meafure in every particular, which thou would~fl: be wtlbng to receive at 'mothers hand,ifthou wert in his cafe:whatfower(faith our S~viour) ynvou(d that men jho~tld do to yo~t,do ye wenfo to them,forthis u the Law and tide Prophets, Mat. 7 · 2 2 ' 2. Abhor with. an infinite difdain, to get any thing by any wicked means, wrong domg, or unconfcwnable dealmg ; we may atfure our (elves in fuch cafes, That befides the fcmt grumblings of our felf-accufing Confcience,the angry eye of God fees fecretly our dotngs, and wtll fhortly, and moll: certainly revenge. · h 3· Let our de/ire and delight never fall:en it felfimmoderatly upon any earthly thing, ~ ough never fo excellent .: Exorbitancy and error this way, brings many times widl tt etther a lofs pf the thing fo doted o.n, or it may be a crofs, or howofoever a cur[e. 0 co~lider ~e the vanity of thefe earthly things ! Conuder we the glories above ! Me thm~s.thls one pre_fervativc would be powerful enough to_ keep the heart of every Chnfitan from dotmg upon the world, or fuffering it to be por!'elfed thereof; it is this; E very Chriftumby afruitful Faith, may be ajf11red of" Crown oflife, either by affurance of gJhcrmcc, or evtdence, or both: Now if that once a day he Jho~tld taks a feriow[~trvey •fth'e · glory;

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