By the Creof Chri s79 .. watchful it will quickly degenerate to acarnal Love. Many a Scholar that at lirli defired Learning to fit him for the ferviceof God, andhis Church, Both by fuffering carnality to infinuate and prevail lofe much of the purity of his first affedtions, and in timegrowmore cold and regardlefs of his firil ends andloveth common Learning meerly for it felf and for the delight of know- ing, or ( which is worfe ). to get him a nameamong men. Its common with men that need recreation for their health , when they let upon it as they think but to fit them for their duty, to fall in love with it afterwards to the perverting of their hearts, the woundingof their confciences , the wafting of their time and the negleft of that work of Godfor which it, fhould be ufed We fhould take our meat and drink, and cloathes, but to f:rengchen and fit us for the fervice of our Mafter : but how ,quicklydo we turn them to the gratifyingof our fíefh , and fo the fervice of another Mailer ? Its too frequent for young perfons of different fexes to Love each other at firíl as Chriftians only , with a chaíl and neceffary Love ; but when they have been tempted awhileto an imprudent familiarity , their Love doch degenerate , and that which was Spiritual becometh Carnal, and the Serpent deceiveth them to the, , corruptingof their minds, and its well if it proceednot to a tuall wickednefs, and the undoing of eachother. Many a poor man thinks with himfelf; If 1 were but out of debt, or couldbut livefo as toferve the Lordwithout diflraflions and had fuch andfi;ch nrceffities fupplyed , 1 wouldnot delire any more , or aft any further for the world But if their delires be granted them, they find themfelves entangled , and their hearts deceived, and they thirdmoreafter fulnefs, then before they did after neceffaries. And many a one thinks, [ 1care notfor riches or honours, but only to do goodwill's, and 1: f Ihad them 1wouldfo tole them.] But when they have theirdefires, thecafe is altered : the íiefh then hath need of it , and can fparefor God as little as other men, becaufe it loves it better then before, and pretendeth tohave more ufe for it then formerly it had. Watch therefore over your deceitful hearts,and be lure tokeep up the Love of God,andactually intend him in all that you have or do; andbe not withdrawn tocarnal affeftions Aaz
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