By thecroft sf Chriji. 183' Rate, and call them to account of what they learn from the pub- lick Miniftry ? Do they flew a vehement hatred of fin, andgo before their families in an heavenly converfation ? Alas, how thin are fuch familiesas thefe ! No, no : they are fo taken up with entertaining their friends,and pampering their flefh and in complements, and in worldly affairs, that they have little time for heavenly work : And if they do for fafhion fake , get a godly young man to be their Chaplain, he is fowearied with the fenfual courfes of Ionic, and the fcorns of others, and the vanity and worldlinefs, and negligence of the refs, thatbis life is a burden to him , and he can no more enjoy himfelf in fuch families then in a fair or popular tumult. On theother fide , poor men are in fo much want that they think themfelves fufficiently excufed for' the negleáing of almoft all the means of their falvation. They think Neceflìty lyeth upon them, and therefore that God will not require it of them to underffand the Scriptures, nor to labour after eternal things. Chrifl telleth them that One thing is needful,. and would have them choofe thebetter part,which (hall not be ta- kenfrom them. But theybelieve not Chrift ; but hearken to their flefh, and it telleth them that its Another thing that is needful , and perfwadeth them tochoofe the worferpart, which will fhortly be takenfrom them. Chrift biddeth them, Labour notfar the meat that perifleth, but for that which endureth to everlaflinog life , yobn' 6. 27. But venter nonhabet atsres ; the flefh underftandeth not fuch exhortations : A greedy appetite is the reafon that it judg eth by : An hungry belly is not filled nor quietedwith argu- asnents. They mutt have their prefent wants fupplyed, let what will becomeof their immortal fouls. And thus the Rich have fo much to look after, that theycannot have while to bediligent for their fouls : And the Poor have fomuch to Peekafter , that they cannot have while : And fo the world abufeth them that Have it and that Want it. As if two men that had forfeited,çheir lives were travelling to London for a pardon ; and the one goeth fo- fair a way, that he forgets bis bufinefs and fitteth down picking flowers in the way ; and the other meets with fo fowl a way, that he thinks he is excufed becaufe he mull take heed of being wet or dirtyed. OSirs, if the worldbe Crucified to you, how can it have inch power over you, as tocaufe you to negleci y our greateft Lord , and.,
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