Baxter - BV4253 B39 C78 1658

f t 8 The crucifying-of the world, go about fuch kind of work, that may but attain his ends in de- vouring you. If he were able, hewould makeyou all Kings, fo that he could but keep you thereby from the Heavenly King- dom. Alas, he that tetnptethyou to fet light by heaven, and pre- fer this world before it, doth better know himfelf to his forrow, the worth of that ever lafting glory which he would deprive you of, and the vanity of that which he thrufteth into your hands. As our Merchants that trade with the filly Indians when they have perfwaded them to take glafs , and pieces of broken Iron andbrats, and knives, for Gold or Merchandize of great value, they dobut laugh at their folly when they have deceived them , and fay, what filly foo!ideth,/eto"make finch an exchange ! For the Merchants know the worth of things which theIndians do not. And fo is it between the Deceiver of fouls, and the fouls that he deceiveth. When he bathgot you to exchange the love of Godand the Crown of Glory, for a little earthly dung and tuft, heknows that hebath made fools of you andundone you by it for ever. Do you not think your felves that it is abominable madnefs ín thofe Witches that make a Covenant with the Devil, and fell their fouls to him for ever on condition they mayhhve their wills for a time ? I know you will fay it is abominable folly. And yet moil of the world do ine1fet thevery fame. God bath affrrred them that they mutt forfake him or the world, and that they muff not love the world if theywill have his love ; nor look for a portion in this,life, if theywill have anypart in the inheri- tance of the Saints': He offers them their choice ; to take the pleafures of Earthor Heaven : And Satan prevailethwith them tomake choke of Earth, though they are told by God bimfelf, that they lofe their falvationby it. And here you may fee what advantage Satan gets, by play- ing his game in the dark, anddoing his workby other hands, and keeping out. of fight hitnfelf, and deceiving men by plaufiHe pretences. Should he but appear himlelf in his owniikcncfs,and offer poor worldlings to make loch a match with then), bow much would the molt of you tremble at it and abhors it ? And yet now he doth the fame thing in thedark you greedily em- brace ir. If you thould but fee or hear him , defirng you to put your hands to loch a Covenant as this is, [ Tdo coat nt to fart

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