/Ifewes whereby Faith uftrengthened. 161 Firft,daily to account it our belt portion, richefijew- r. ell , moll pretious treafure, and chiefeft happinefle in this life : which ifweedoe , our hearts willbe ever uponit, our fearewill beufaalLy left wee fhould lofe it, and wee (hall thinkeit moll neceffaryto regard and looke unto it, what- foever wee have betides it worth the looking after. And otherwilé every fmall occafion will hinder us, every fond delight carryus away,' and every trifle take up theheart, much more our earneft and weighty affaires and bufi- neffe, towhich moil men thinke that all exercifesofRe- ligion ought togive place. Things ofworth are dif-effee- med if theirvalue bee not knowne , and triflesare looked after when they bee over-valued. A true efleemeofthe price, excelleneie, and ufeof faith , theprofit and comfort of it , will raifean earnefl continuall care topreferve and keep it. Secondly , wee muli labour daily , not onely to loath s. thole things which are evill in themfelvesl, but a11òtobee very fober and moderate in our lawful! labours andde- lights, defires, and affeEtions to things tranfitorie, remem- bringwhat our Saviour Chrifi faith , One thing ie necefa- rie; otherwife Sathan, who can change himfelfe into an Angel of Light , will fill our hearts and heads with fivarmes of evi'1lufls , noyfome delights , cares and di- fira6tions , whichwill drawour mindes from that which theyought moll tominde and thinke upon. Wee mull bee heedfull in this, not onely that theworld drawus not to encreafe our wealth bywicked orunjufl meanes but that it creepe not inlenfibly into our affeelions , andfo byde- grees not obferved , breed great diflempers in the foule. Feare ofwant , joy anddelight in what weejuflly and ho- neflly poffefl'e, climbinginto theheart , and bylittle and little getting head, doe fucke away that vertue, whereby theword fownefhould receive flrength and ìncreafe , and alienate partofthe foule fromGod. Herein therefore we muff beecircumfpe6l, gagingour hearts and trying themto thebottome, weaning our felvesfrom thefe delights,rai- M fing
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