C384) if thedead ( in cafeof Minifiers abfence, or other hinderance have not fomewhat laid over them at the grave ; and in tome places, if Minifters go not in proceffion in Rogation week, and many fuch like cufloms. Ifthefe were fometime ufed (ina good and lawful) way) it would keep men from miflaking them to be unlawful) ; and ifthey were fometime diffufed , people would not take them as things neceffary , nor fo hate and reproach bothMinifters and brethren that negle& them,or do notalwayes humour them herein , yea or that were againftthem : nor would men feparate on thefe accounts. Real, z. The conflant oft of Forms of Prayerdepriveth people of their 4iiniffers gifts, andporentl) tendeth to work the people intoa dull formality,andtoameer outfrde heartlefsknd of is as great an enemy to ferious Devotion,and confequently to mens falvation,asalmofl any thing that; to be foundamong pro- feffedChriflians in the Church.How dangerouflyandobftinate- ly do fuck delude themfelves, and think that they are asupright- ly religious as the bell? and fo refúfe all the humbling con- vincing light that fhould bring them to a change, and blindly mifapply the promifes to themfelves and go on in meer prefum- ption to the laic : and all becaufe they thus draw neer to God with their lips , and fay over a form of words when their heartsare far from him, and they know not, orobferve not what they fay. And that conflancy in Forms sloth potently tend to this dead formality, weneed noother proof thenexperience. How hard doth the belt man find it to keep up lifeand ferioufnefs in the confiant hearingor (peaking of the fame words ? If you fay that iris our fault ; I grant it : but it is an uncurable fault while we are in the flefh : or at deaf} its few that ever are very much cured of it and non wholly. Theres much alfo in nature it.felf to caufe this. Aman that deli ghteth in Mufick is .weary of it , if he have conflantly the fame inftrument and tune : or at featl cannot pofiibly have that delight that Vari- ety would afford him. So is it in recreations, andoft in dyer, and other things. Novelty affe&cth : Varietypleafeth : Com- monnefs dulleth us. And thoughwe mu& not therefore have a New God, or a New Chrifi, or a New Gofpel ( the fulnefs of tiefeaffordeth the foul adaily variety; .: and alto their per- feet
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