598 Hov fhgll Merchants in forraign parts keep up Sera, 26, by which grace and a fpirit of true and reali Religion is begot in the foul ; and therefore when we want thofe publick (Miner, s which might be often prefenting there great truths to our fouls, it evil be of great efe to charge cur felves more feverely with the daily ferious thoughts of them. 9. Take heed ( as for your life ) of indulging any fecret fin ; for that will keep down the file of Religion in the midi of all Ordinau- ces, and therefore much more in the want of them; a fecret drfeafe in the body which fpends upon the hock of the radical( moyfiure, will keep a man from being lively and vigorous , though he have. plenty of very good nourifhing food , much more will it endanger one in a famine ; even fo a fecret fin lodged ithin , and icdulged; will weaken and enervate the principle of Religion in the foul amid((; the fullei proviuon of Gofpel.O dinances , much more when there is a famine or fcatcity of the bread of life. A Trad :fwan that bath fome fecret vent where his elate runs waft , may prove a beggar in the midi of daily incomes by a good Trade, much more if he fpends upon a dead Rock ; and fo a man who fpends the firength of his foul in fame chofe and (secret fn may prove a fpiritu- all beggar in the fu'1_il: Trade of Gofpel- Ordinances, and though he have daily incomes of convi ions informations,, reproofs, counsels, follicitatior,s, (fc. from publick Ordinances ; much more in the want of them ; and therefore they who value the life of Religion or the life of their fouls , mutt rake heed of indulging fecret fns. io. Be the more careful! often to feel the pulfe of thine own foul we ufe to fay, every man at a competent age is either a fool ora Play. frian and though he be a fool indeed, who when he, needs and.may have wifer Phyfcians will truft to himfelf., yet when we cannot have others, a man fhould the more iudy himfelf, and the oftener try his own pulfe; and tru'y he is but a babe in fpiritual things that is not fomething of a Phyfician to himfelf; and though we should not truft our own skill or experience, where we need and may have the help of others, yet when we are deprived of them, we fhould the more diligently converfe with our own fouls, and. be the oftnertryi.ng how our pulle beats towards God, and Heaven, and the things of an. other life. i i. Be fo much ttte more in private fecret prayer, reading, and meditation ; when we want the fhowrs of publick Ordinances, we fhould t(le more diligently ufe the warring pot , and water our fouls with
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