Serin. 23. How mull we make Religion or brcfsnefs ? 533 4. Chara&ier. He who make Religion his bufinefs Religion hath an 4. Ch4raa. influence upon all his civill actions. I. Religion hath an influence upon bis eating and drinking ; he j. holds the golden bridle of temperance, he eats fparingly. The godly man feeds not to pleafe the fenfuall appetite, but that he may (as Chrifeftosnse faith) by the flrength he receives from the creature 1,,zmov onsvNankaP ioa.mx o 7rariv ¿t', be the more fit for the chearfull difcharge of fpirituaul fervices : He makes not his food fuell for lull, but help to duty. Epicures dig their own grave with their teeth ; they feed without fear, Jude verf. t 2. Irregularesgulares. Sin -,4 1,6-,7., Hers fear not left their Table fhould be a fnare ; they fear not the procefs á Tfd aA- of jrrftice ; while the Wine is in the Cup, they fear not the hand- Mid; c W- writing on the Wall. But the godly man being regulated by Religion, d ci ran 'a puts a Knife to his throat, Pro v. 23,2. that he may cut the throat of C,ryfofï. intemperance. Ma. 69.22; 2. He that makes Religion his bufinefs,Religion bath an influence 2. upon his recreation.The firings of the Viol muíi fometimes beflackn:d left they break ; Neque femper arcurt tendit Apollo - - -- God affords his people generous delights; the Scripture allows the ufe of the Bow, 2 Sam.I,18.But we are apt to offend mofi in lawfull things ; more are killed with Wine than with poyfon. Religion fits Moderatour in the foul. The man influenced by Religion dares not make play an occu- pation ; 'cis oyl to quicken him in Gods fervice, not a Sea to ingulph him. He who is devoted to Religion, puts bounds to the Olympian fports ; he knows where to ^make his flops and periods ; he lets up an Herculie Columna, on which he writes, non ultra, no further than this. 3. He that makes Religion his bufinefs, Religion bath an infla- 3s, ence upon his baying and felling. The wicked get a livelihood often by cozening ; fometimes they embafe commodities, amos 8 6, They fell the refnfe of the Wheat. They would pick out the bell grains of Corn, and then fell the refk ; fometimes they falf fie their weights, Itof 12.7. He is a Merchant, the ballances of deceit are in his hand. But he who make Religion his bufinefs, is regulated by it in the Shop ; he is jut in his dealings; he dares not hold the Book of God in one hand, and falfe weights in the other ; he is faithfull to his neigh- bour, and makes as much reckoning of the ten Com.iiandementt, as of his Creed. 4, Religion hath an influence upon his marrying. He labours,to graft upon a religious flock ; he is not fo ambitious of parentage as Yyy 2 piety;
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=