Opened, and appliedfromCHRIsT s Prieftly-CiEce. Is it not.a comfortable thing, for a man to know, that his-Duties are not loft ? that his Prayer is not loft ? that his Hearing the word is not loft ? that his Searching the Scrip- tures is not loft? that his Conference, and Communion is not loft ? A man is unwilling to bole any thing : and the more precious it is, the more unwilling to bole it. It we have a venture at Sea ; weare unwilling to lofe our ven- ture : and the greater our venture is, the more unwilling to lofe it. Ifa man have but a quarter ofhis Eftate in a veffel, he is unwilling to lofe it ; more unwilling ifhe have halfhis Eftate ; molt ifhehave all, and his children there in the veffel too. Now as men are unwilling to lofe their worldly venture: So, a man that is fenfibleof his foul, is veryunwilling to I ofe his fouls venture; to lofehis Prayers, and to lofe all his Duties. (Friends) here's a n Injuring. Office - 7-be Lord Jefus Chrift is our great Infurer in this reffidt and he doth as he is our High-Prieft, offeringupour Gifts unto God the Father, affure us that none is loft-, not any loft. Weed, ifwe had fuch an High-Prieft, as were not able to take notice of the Circumilances of our Duties, much might be loft : but, this our Lord Chi ift, our great High-Prieft, doth not only take notice of our Duty what ever it be ; but °fall the Circumftances ofour Duties, and fo prefents them untoGod the Father, in the full latitude, in all the gracious Circumftances of them. Therefore faith he, unto the Angel ofthe Church of Pergamos in the 2. of the Revelation, and the 13. verfe ; I know they worts. Why, but Lord, though thou doeft know our works, yet it may be thou doeft not take notice where our work is done: Lord, it maybe thoudoeft take notice ofmy Prayer, but Lord, thou doeft not take notice where I dwell, and live, and in what family I do pray unto thee ; Lord, I am in a wicked, and a wretched family, that does oppofe Pra- yer : Lord, may be thou doeft take notice of my Prayer, but thou doeft not take notice, of this Circumftance : Yes, (faies he) I know thy wor4, and where thou dwellefi, even where Satan,feat is. Well, and thou holdefifaft mil Name, and hafi nat
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