59Ò Eozv[ hall Merchants in forraign parts keep up Serin. 26. I )011.3,12. Reror 7.6. Religion in his foul, and underftands how deflruc`tive the want of Gofpcl- Ordìna'nces, arid the company of evil men are to his grates, may, well cry out, wo to me that I fojourn, &c. 2. In regard of theirperfons, aria the concerments of this life the enmity that is in the feed of the Serpent , againft the feed of the yv ornan doch not onely put forth iË [elf in endeavours to ruine or weaken their graces but alto to deftroy their perlons : wicked wens malice againft that fpirituaf life of grece in good men which themfelves do rot partake of, Both foon improve into malice alfo againfl thatnaturall humar.e life which themfelves are a`fo partakers of; their defires to fuck the blood, as I may fo fay, of good mens fouls and graces,makcs them delight to fuck the blood of their bodies ; wit - nefs Cain, the firfl that learnt this bloody trade, by killing his brother for no other caufe, but becaufe his own works were evil, and his brothers righteous ; witnefs alfo Ahab and ezabel, Mana ffeh, &c. but the foul- mouthed witeefs to this black and fad truth, is the fcarlet bloody Whore of Babylon, who is drunken with the blood of the Saints , and with the blood of the Martyrs of 7efus, and therefore in Gods due time fife flail have blood to drink; thole therefore who underfland what an hellifh fire of rage is in the hearts of wicked men, how great their malice is again(' goodnefs and good men and what combuflible matter our life, and the comforts of this life be , fo far as they value thefe mercies, have reafon with David to cry out, Wo is me that I Mourn in Mefcch, &c. And now the wofullr condition of thofe that are deprived of Go- feel Ordinances,and fojourn where heavenly Manna Both not fall,and who dwell among, and convene with wicked and ungodly men as it calls upon us to blefs God when it is not to with us, and to pity and pray for thofe who have reafon to take up fuch a complaint , as David here cloth ; fo alto to bethink our felves what we ought to do if the cafe were ours; for you know the life of a Chriflian is very oft, and very fitly in Scripture compared to a warfare ; and furely he is but a mean fouidier and never like to come off with vi&ory and triumph, who doth not prepare himfeff ,fór all kinde of affaults, and doch not labour to fortifie every paffage, whereat he may be flormed ; and therefore'ci, good for us to make the condition of others our own ; fo that this queflion,or praaicall cafe of confcience will offer it felf to our confideration. How (hall thofe Merchants and others keep up the life of Reli- gion , whp while they were at home , enjoyed all Gofpel -Ordi- nanees,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=