By the Croft ofChrifi. i Vfe. EE then that you abhor all felt advancing thoughts: And receive no Doctrine that gives the glory ofChrift unto your felves. They are miferable that are made irreligion' by their pride : But they are more miferable, becaufe more uncurable, that make themfelves a Religion by their pride : and frame to themfelves both Doctrinesand Devotions, whofe tendency and ufe is to keep alive thisdevilifh fin. You donotbelieve weg nor repent well, nor praywell , nor do any trhriftian duty well, if. you benot more humble in andafter it, thenyou were before. Itsa fad cafe for a man to preach hitnfelf and pray himfelf into hell, and to ftrengthen thebonds of finand Satan by his devoti. ons. And yet proud Devötions areas readyaway to this, as you can devife. If you read, or confer, or preach, orpray, witha mind,tbat is lifted up, and glorieth in it fell, you do but ferve the Devil, with the name of God and his holyOrdinances. And therefore we have leen by fad experience , in a multitueof fects, and horrible delufions of late in this Land, that none run to fuch dreadful( outrages in fin, nor go fo far againft the Lord,as proud felt conceited profeffors do. As you love yourfouls, take heed of being conceited of your own underftanding or worth, and of being proud of your fuppofed holinefsor abilities. What fear- full ends have we leenof fuch ! If indeed thou arc a Chriftían thou twill becdme as a little child and learn of Chrift tobe meek and lowly, and be a fervant to all : And lay thy felt hill at the feet of Chrift , as fenfible that all the fin is thine, but the good is his, from whom thou didit receive it. Thou canit deftroy thy fell, but in him is thyhelp. Thou haft the skill and ability, to let .thyown houfe on fire ; but its he that mutt quench it or repair -it. Thou art wife to do evil, but thou haft noknowledge to do good but what hegiveth thee. Thou haft theart of [tabbing thy fell , but not of curing thy fell He mutt do thatfor thee, or 'elfe it mutt be undone. You can fnarl and ravel theRate of your own fouls, but its he that muít untye the knots which thy .I, i folly.
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