:DireBions for yoUI\g Chriftians. Jhmficce CHAP. (I. W;Jt!Cn3.Book ~nthis Cubjell, •• whieh X>ireBions to yoww CIJI·ifliaiJS or 'Beginners in rJ\.eli.rion, ~'or their enabltijhment and f tefer lhC (.{. d" 6 ".)" 0 fl 'J .. f.1~~,~~;1li1a1e procee tl\g· Dire/J. r. BEfore I come to the Common Diretlions for the Exercife of Grace,and walking with God, con– taining the common duties ofChrillianity, I {hall lay down fame previous lofirud:ions proper to thofe that are but ner:J?ly cmred into Religion, ( prefuppofing what is fa id in my Book of Di– rclJioni to thofe that are yet under the work of Convedion, toprevent their mifcarrying bya falfe or fuperficial change.) Direct. r. TAl<! bred left it be the Novelty or reputation of 1ruth and Godlimfi, that takft n>ith you, more tban the foiid Evidr,tce of their ExcrUtnry and Neceffity ; left whtn the Novelty ,md reputation are gont, yourReligion withet and cmfume away. t· ~· r. It is faid ofJohn and the Jews by Chrifl, [.He war a burning and a jhining light, and ye were wiPing fa>· afiafon to rtj,yce in hit light. J John 5· 35· All men are affected moll with things that fecm new and firange to them. It is not only the intirmirie ofChildren, that are pleafe4 with new Cloaths, and new Toyes and Games ; but even to graver wifer perfons, new things are moft affecting, and commonnefs and cufiorn dulls delight. Our habitations, and poffeffions, and honoprs, are moll pleafing to us at the firfl : And every condition of life doth moll affect us, ar the firil : If nature were nm much for Novelty, the pub)i(hing of News-booJv would not have beetr"fo gainful a Trade fa long, unlefs the matter had been truer and more defirable. Hence it is that Changes are fo welcome to the world, though they prove ordino1rily to their cofi. No wonder then, if Religion b~: the more a:cceptable, when it comes with this advantage. •When men firfi hear the dodriDe of Godli~ nefs, and the tydings of another world, by a powerful Preacher opened and fer home, no wonder if things of fo great moment atftct them for a time : It is faid of them that received the feed of Gods Word as into frony ground, that [. forthn>ith it }prung up J. and rhey [ anon with joy rmived it J Matth. I3· 5, 20. bur it quickly withered for want ot roormg. The_fe kmd o.f hearers can no rno~e delight flill in on~ ~reach~r, prone profeffion, or way, than a Glutton 1n one.Difh, ~ran Adulterer If! one Harlot: For It 1S but a kmd offtn[ual or l'latural pleafure that they have m the h1ghefi truths; Anct all fuch delight mufi be fed with Novelty and variety of objects. The Atheniant were inquifiti ve af– ter PaulJ doctrine as Novelty, though after they rejected it, as feeming to them incredible, Acts 17. 1 9, zd, 21. M.:1y we k._now what thil new dutrriHe whtrel!f thou JPeak.!Jf irl For tlnubringejl ctrtain firange things to "OUr earl; we would /tnow therefore wbat theft thingr mean: For all the Athenians and Stra'ltgerr which were there, JPent tbcir time in nothing elft, but to teU~hear fome 'tltw rl:Ji!fg. ~. 2 • To this kind ofProfeffors, the greatell Truths grow out of fafhion, and they grow we1ry of them, as of dull and ordinary things .; They mufl have fome NtTP L!gbt, or ntwTPay o[Religio;' that lately came in fafhion :· Their fouls arc weary of that Manna that at hrfi was acceptable to them, as Angels food. Old things feem low, and New things high to them : And to entertain fame No– vtlty in Religion, is to grow up to more maturity : And too many fuch at lafi fo far overthrive their old apparel, that the old Chrill, and old Gofpel arc leftbehind them. . ~· 3 . The Light of the Gofpe!JS fpeedtl~er communtcated, than t~e Heat : And thiS firfl put be– ing mofi acceptable to them, 1s foon receiVed ; and Religion feemeth bell to them at firfi. At firlt they have the Light of Knowledge alone: and then they have the warmth <if·3 new'and ·profperous profdfion : There mufl be fome time for the operatipg of the heat, before it bHrneth them : and then they have enough, and .call it away in as much hafie as they took it up: IfPreachetS ·would only lightm and fhoot no thunderbolts ; even a Htrod himfelf would hear them gl.zdl)•, and do many tMngs after them: But when their H~rodiar is medled with, they cannot bear it. If Preachers would fpeak only to mens fanfier or underftandings, and not meddle too frnartly with th.eir Hrartl, and Livn, and c 41 rnal interejlr, the world would bear them, and hear them as they do Stage--players, or at leafi as LeCturersin Philofophy or Phyfick: ASermon that bath nothing but fome general toothlefs notions in a handfome drefs of words, doth feldom procure offence or perfecution: It is rare that fuch mms preaching is difiafied bycarnal hearers, or rheir perfOns hated for it. It ir a pleafant tbing for tbe eytt to behold rhe Sun, .Ecclcf. ". 7· But notto befcorchcd by its beat. Chri(l himfelt at a difiance as prumi{ed, was greatly defired by.the Jews =. but when hecame, they could not bear him; his doctrine and life were fo contrary to theu expectations, Mal. 3· r, 2, 3· [ 1'1Jt Lord whom ye feek,_, foaU fod~ den!y come into hir1emplt ; even the Meffinger of the C(lvenant whom you delij!,ht in, behold heJhaUCome faith tht Lord of Hojl~o But who may abide the day of hit coming l and who {haH ftar.d whtn he •['- pearukl
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