Ambrose - BT200 A42 1658

--------------------·------- -------· Cbap.3 .Sect.t. Leokiflg rtnto (eji11. Book. IV. 449 ·--------. 4· Ifit be fo that ufually they are penfive and fad, it is not becaufe of Religion, but becaufe they are not more Religious; be· caufe they finde fo much w:.tnt ofgodlinelfe in their own hearts; this was the caufe of P au!J hea vinefs, Oh wretched man thar I tt~_tJ R~m : 7 • ~4~ who foal/ deliver me from thu 6ody ofdeath? and yet know, that all thefe fadnelfes are true prepar.atives to joy; and therefore in the very next words, the Apofile breaks out into that fweet doxology, !thank Goa thr~ugh fPfm [hrijlour Lord. Never was true Corrow for fin, but it ended in rejoycings and prai.ifs, and thankfgiving to God. - Why th,en be convinced; ah deceived fouls! fay not that God is ari hard Maller, reaping where he fowed not, and gather- ' ing where he fhawed not; fay not that his wayes are tedious, and irkfome,and uncomfortable wayes; hut rather tafte,and fee, and try how good the Lord is ~ experience the truth of thefe words, myy011k§ u eajie, andmy hurthen u light ; what is lighter than that burthen, .which inftead of burthening, cbears up the party-on which it is laid ? juft like thofe burthens ·of Cinnamo11 that refrctb thofe that carry them through the deep fandsof Arahia. An holy divine once endeavouring to convince men of the fweetne!Te and pleafantnelfe of .Gods wayes by his own experiences, I call heaven andearth to record (faith he) th~tt thefe things are truths of god ,; they are mt notions, or conceits, but cer· taine realities : Another flies fomewhat higher, if men w~JUlditJ earnefl (fa yes he) a6.sndon the devils forvice, andgive up their names to Chrift in truth; and try, I dare af{ure them in the Word of tife and truth, they wBuld not exchrmge the fadd~ft boure ofall their life afterward, with theprime andflower of .sll their former fe14[ua/ pleafures , might they have ten thoufand worlds to boote · her wniu 111re __ waies ofpleafure,faith Solomon. '· Prov. l · 1 f, 2. You that are fo convinc't, I befeech you carry on the work V fe. 2. of God fweetly, comfortably, and with delight: the Pfalmifl: fayes, b!effed u the man that delights in thelaw of the Lord. And Pfa!.r, r, :r.. blef{ed are the undefiled i~ the way,who walk ~hearful!y in the law o['l' fal. 11 . 9 , 1 , the Lord. And b!ef{edu the man that delit,htethgreatly in bu law. · And it wa£ written upon the heartofChrift, I delight to do thy will praJ. 40 . 8~ 0 my God, yra thy law u ,within my heart ; as God loves a chear- - ful giver, fo a chearful ferver, come tak; myyoak,J uponyou, fatth Chrift, for r»J y011kl u Mjie; it is not an Iron yoake of bon· Mmm dagc~ - .

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