Serm. 26. the life of Re4ion without publick Ordírtonces ? 599 with cur foot (as the phrafe is concerning Egypt) Deut. i i . i o. if our lot fhould be calt where there be no publick Markets where Corn might be bought , every one would plow and fow , reap and t"hrsfh in his own grounds : Even fo, if we fhould live where there be do publick Gofpel- Ordinances, where the Truths of the Gofpel are not publickly to be had, where we cannot partake of the labours of the Gofpel-Mini(tery,then it would concern us to be the more dili- gent in plowing, and fowing in reaping and thrafhing by our own private endeavours; and I think it would be fit for us in fuch a con- dition, to fpend that time at leaf in private duties,which others fpend in fuperftitious or Idolatrous Cervices ; let not us think much to give God and our fouls that time, which others give to their own fuper- flitious fancies. 12. In the ufe of al private helps, aLt faith in God, as being able to fupply the want of outward means by the gracious influence of his good and holy Spirit. When there was no rain from heaven God could caufea miff to arife and water the earth, Gen. 2. 6. even fo if the Lord-fhould bring us where there be no fhowres of publick Ordinan- ces, he can fir up in our fouls thofe holy and heavenly meditations, which fhall again drop down like an heavenly dew upon the face of our fouls, and keep up an holy verdure and frLfhnefs upon the face of our fouls &Egypt is laid to have no rain, but God makes it fruir- Terra tips in- full by the úverfl.)wing of is own ,River Nihu; and truly if God dita 3ovN. bring any true believer into a fpiritual Egypt, where the rain of pub - lick Ordi ,arses loth not fail, he can caufe fuch a flow of holy and heavenly thoughts and mediations as fiait make the foul very fruitfull in a good and an holy life ; and therefore we fhould oft in fuch a con- dition b;lievingly remember, that if we do our endeavour, by private prayer, meditation, reading, and fuch like, God is able and will , in the want of publick Ordinances, preferve the life of Religion in our fouls, by private be'ps. We proceed now to the fecond Qeflion contained in the general cafe, viz. ,ùeft. What fhould believing Chriflians do to preferve their outward concernments among perfecuting enemies, without hazard- ing their Religion? Now chi queftion will refolve it felt into two particular Queries is What fhould fuch do to fecure themfelves from fuller - ing ly6á íhouid they do to erìcograge chemfelvEs againft and fupport
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