Baxter - BV4253 B39 C78 1658

By theCrois of ChrO. 169 name behind you, yet man being in honour abidetb not but ú like the beafls that per ifFr : When he dyeth he/ball carry nothing away, his glory jhall not defcendafter him : though Whiles he livedheblef- fedhisfoul, and men praife them that (thus) do well to them- felves ; yet fbell theygo to the generation of theirfatbers,andAall never fee Light. Man that is in honour rind underftandeth not, ie like the beofts that perifh , Verf. 1 1, i 2, 17, 18, 1 9, 20. Though the ungodly proper in the world and encreafe in riches, yet he that goeth believingly into the Sanliwarymay fee their end : Surely they arefa in fl ppery places and raft down into deftruElien : How are they brought to defolation as in a moment and confirmed With ter- rours,'Pfalm 73. 12,17,18,19. eflnd in that véry day doall his thoughtsperifh, Kahn 146. 4. Then ¡hall they eat thefruit of their own Way, and befilledWith theirown devices ; for the turningaway of the fimple! ball flay them, and the profperity of fools!hall deftroy - them, Prov. 31. 32. See then that,you be not eager for profperity ; and if God caft it on you, ufe it with fear. And if ever you feel the creaturebe- gin to grow too fweet and delightful to you then fpit it out as the poyfon of the foul , and prefently take amortifyinganti- dote before you are paff remedy. As you feel theworking of poyfon by its burning, or griping, or other effeets agreeable to its nature, by which it feeketh the extingufhing of life ; fo you may feel when the world is poyfon to your fouls by its creeping into your affeetions, and infinuating into your hearts with pre- lent delight,or future hopes by feeming more Lovely and more Neceffary then it is. As loon as ever you feel it thus creep into your hearts, its time to rife up againft it with holy fear, and to caft it cur, if you love your fouls. And that which I would advife you to at prefent , when the world bath got too deep into yotyhearts before you are aware, is this : Do fomething extraord ery,in fucoaneceffity , for its crucifixion andyour recovery. Thougha careful diet may ferve to preferve health while youhave it , yet if youhave lof it, and ficknefs be upon you, you mutt have recourfe to Phyfick for your cure., If honour , or preferment, or houfe, or land, or friends, or gain, or recreationsbegin to teem too fweet anddear toyou , and your hearts begin to hug themwithdelight, or make out after themwith keen defires ; you mutt now have re- courfe

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=