534 Holy prof/ we m:ike lteli;ion OUT buf ne fs ? Serm, 23. 6. ChmraFf. Epilietrtl, 7. CharaEie. Zu-its ri,u+v dqu- NHxs rpHx ! piety ; nor is his care fo much to efpoufe dowry as virtue* : In a word, he fzeks for a meet help, one that may help him up the bill to Heaven : this is mart) ing in the Lord. That marriage indeed is honourable a, when the husband is joyned to one who is the Ten-ple of the Holy Ghofl;, s Cor, 6 19. Here is the man that makes Religion his bufinefs, who in all his civill crr:nfa *ions is !leered, and influenced by Religion : Religi. on is the univerfall ingredient. 5 He who makes Religion his butancfs,isgood in his calling and relation ; r. !alive grace cloth much grace Religion ; I !half fufped his gocdnefs who herein is excentricall : force will pray and difcourfe well, but it appears they never made Religion their bufinefs, but took it up rather for oflentation than as an occupation, becaufe they are def @dive in relative duties ; they are bad husbands, bad children, &c. If one fhould draw a picture, and leave out the eye, it would much eclipfe and take from the beauty of the pi&ure : to fail in a relation, Plains the honour of profeffion. He who makes Religion his bufinefs, is like a Star fhining in the proper orbe, and station wherein 'G )d hath let. him. 6. He who makes Religion his bufinefs, bath a care of his com- pany, he dares not twill into a cord of friendfhip with tanners. Pfal. 26.4. I have not fat with vain perfons : Diamonds will not cement with rubbifh. ' fis dangerous to intermingle with the wicked, !aft their breath prove infe &-ious : Sin is very catching,Pfal.to6.3 5,36. They were mingled among the heathen, and learned their worlds, and ferved their Idols , which were a fnare unto them. Avdyxñ ñ =43141 iv r K.0 ;e4 : if you mingle bright and ruay armour toge- ther, the may will not be made bright, but the bright will be made rutty. He who makes Religion his bufinefs, likes not to be near them, whole nearnefs fets him further off from God, and whole imbraces, like thole of the Spider, are to fuck out the precious life. The godly man ingrafts into the communion of Saints, and hereby, as the Siens he partakes of the lap, andvirtue of their grace : he who makes it his bufinefs to get to Heaven, affociates only with thofe.who may make him better, or whom he may make better. 7. He who makes Religion his bufinefs keeps his fpritualt watch alwayes by him. t. He watcheth his eye, Job 31.1 . I have made a covenant with mine eyes. When `Dinah was gadding the was defiled, Gen. 34.1. When the eye is gadding by impure glances, the heart îs defiled. 2. He who makes Religion phis bufinefs, watcheth his thoughts, lead they fhould turn Co froth, Ter. 4. ;4. How long Aall vast
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