Serm. 19. in holy Duties ? tiatur.Cyp.lib. De Dratione Domini. There muft be a refolved Jliutting of the heart againfi Gods enemy, left he inrnuate with us, and with. draw our minds. 5. Be fevere to your purpofe, and fee that you regard nothing but what the duty leadeth you unto, 'tis the Devils policy to cheat us of the prefent duty by an unfeafonable interpofstion,Sathan beginneth with us in good things, that he may draw us to ivorfe, what is unfeafonable is naught, watch againft the firft diverfson how plauf-,ble foever , 'cis an intruding thought that breaketh a rank; in this cafe fay as the Spoufe, Cant. 3.1 charge you that you awake not my Beloved till he pleafe;fuch a rigid feverity íhould you life againfl the itarting of the heart,ìf Sathan fhould at firft cart in a thought ofbla(4hemy,that would make thee quake and fbake , therefore he beginneth with plaufble thoughts , but be careful to obferve the fir ft ftraglings, * yea be not diverted by thy * Eff ppeterea very ßrivingsagainfl diverfions,and therefore do not diffiute with fug- optimum ad at. geftions but defpife them : nor Eland examining temptations but rejri-t meth m f i re- Chem, as blind Bartimesas regarded not the rebukes of the People, but menos rerum a. - - cryed the more after Chrifl; or as Travellers do not ftand beating back ruenrer non fo- the Dogs that bark at them, but hold on their ceurfe ; this is to be reli- lam non adver- gioufly vbffinate, and fevere to our purpofe. Sathan contemned bath theta's, non excu- lefs advantage againil you, when he is writing images upon the fancy te rim, non exa- do not vouchfafe to look,upon them : A Crier in the Court that is often habemte q of ¡ommanding filence, diflterbeth the Court more than they that make the ear non a4icc- noife ; So diluting with our diftraftions increafeth them, they are bet- re digneris : ter avoided by a fevere contempt. Hain ipfum ad i 6. Bring with you to every holy Service ftrong #iritual affec`lions, verrere,d7 exce- our thoughts would not be at fuch a dillance from our work if our a minare g Ì cogitationes fettions were more ready and more earnelily fet; it is the unwilling evagari eß : Servant that is loath to clay long at his work, but is foon gone ; could lam adverfari- we bring our felves more delightfully to converfe with God, our hearts us aliyuid a ,"- would hold our minds clofe, and we would not flraggle fo often as we Jacobus tiiva- do, therefore fee you do this, or you do nothing. I way glad (faith tez. David) when they faid unto me, come let etio go into the Houfe of the Lord, Pf.i2z. i. Were we of this frame offpirit many direi-tionswould not need. Now what fhould hinder us from being thus affeeted? Are not the Ordinances of' God the fpecial means of our communion with him ? And the throne of grace; the very porch of heaven ? Can we be better than in Gods Company, pleading with him for our fouls good, and wait.. ing `. or his bl: fing ? Therefore let us be glad, and rejoyce in h1.4ù prefcnce, and you will not eafily find fuch out- flrayings of mind and thought. 0 o o 7. Remember
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=