594 How Thai Merchants in f orraìgn parts keep up Serm. 26. they will finde, they had better have been imployed in the moil deba- fing drudgery, than in the outward work of God with unifier and un- worthy ends, Thefe things premifed, the cafe refolves it felf into thefe particular queflions, I. What fhould beleeving Chriflians do to fupport the life of Religion in their fouls, when they want the ordinary food of pub - lick Gofpel Ordinances ? z. What should fuch do to preferve their outward concertnents among perfecuting enemies without hazarding their Re igion? In anfwer to the find quellion take thefe Directions I. Let fuch humbly reffeft upon their former fleighting, dcfpi- fing and abufing the means of grace which now they want ; it is the ufual method of God., to teach us the worth of mercies either temporal or fpiritual by the wAnt of them, and to bring us to want thofe mercies which we abufe ; if the childe play with, or throw about his meat, he may well think a wife and loving Father will make him feel the want of it, and thereby know the worth of it; and certainly we have as much reafon to fear the fulfilling of thofe threatnings which the Mini[ { ers of the Gofpel have for many years founded in our ears, for our abufe of the means of grace; and cer- tainly if Gods providence fhould call the moll of us into Spain, or force other Popifh Country where we fhould have a famine of hear- ing the word of the Lord, might we not fadly refied upon our defpi- fing, yea and loathing the heavenly Manna of Gods Word P I fpeak not of the prophance ungodly wretches, who fcarce ever had any ferious thoughts of Eternity, nor ever foberly confidered whether they were at all beholden unto God or no, that never knew how to value a Bible above a Play -book, or the Sacrament above a drunken meeting,whofe Religion is co fcoffe and mock at godlinefs and godly men, and who farce ever knew any other end in coming to Church, but to mock or carp at the Preacher, who may with trembling read their doom, z Chron. 36.16. But I fpeak of the Profeffors of Reli- gion, how have they either by reafon of new fargled opinions, Ileighted and defpifed Gofpel - Ordinances ? or elfe by reafon of fulnefs of fpiritual food, have loathed and trampled upon the means of grace, to whom the Lord feems to fpeak, as to thofe Extk, 34.18, Y g. Seemeth it a[mall thing unto you to have eaten up the good paflure but you snuff tread down with your feet the refidue of .your paflures ? od to have drunk, of the deep maters, tut ye muff foul the refidue with your
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=