360 DIRECTIONS OR GETTING. AND KEEPING comprehended in this one word, ' Flesh-pleasing.' But because there are a trinity ofsins in this unity, we must consider them dis- tinctly. Three great objects there are, about which this sin of flesh-pleasing is exercised : 1. Credit or honor. 2. Profit or riches. 3. Sensual pleasure, more strictly so called, consisting in the more immediate pleasing. of the senses ; whereas the two first do more remotely please them, by laying in provision to that end; otherwise all three are in the general but flesh-pleasing. The three great sins, therefore; that do most directly fight against God himself, in his sovereignty, are, 1. Pride, or ambition. 2. Worldliness, or love of riches.. 3. Sensuality, voluptuousness, or inordinate love of pleasures. There arein the understanding indeed other sins, as directlyagainst God as these; and moreradical ;'as, 1. Atheism, denying a God. 2. 'Polytheism, denying.our God to be the alone God, and joiningothers with him. 3. Idolatry, owning false gods. 4. Infidelity, denying Jesus Christ our Lord Redeeiner. 5. Own ing false Saviors and prophets, in his stead, or before him, as do the Mahometans. 6. Joining other Redeemers and Savidrs with him, as if he were not the alone Christ. 7. Denying the Holy Ghost, and denying credit to his holyand miraculous testimony to the Christian faith, and blasphemously ascribing all to the devil; which is the sin against the Holy Ghost. 8.' Owning and believ- ing in devils, or lying spirits, instead of the HolyGhost ; as Montanists, Mahometans, Ranters, Familists, do. . 9. Owning and, adjoining devils, or lying spirits, in cdördination or equality with the Holy' Ghost, and believing equally his doctrine and theirs ; as ifhe were not sole and sufficient in his work.. All these are sins directly against God himself, and ifprevalent, most certainly damn- ing ; three against the Father, three against the Son, and three against the Holy'Ghost. But these be not they .that I need now to warn you of. These are prevalent only in pagans, infidels, and blasphemers. Your troubles and complaints show that these are not predominant in you. Ibis therefore the three fore-mentioned sins of the heart or will, that I would have you carefully to look after in your troubles, to see whether none of them get ground and strength in you. 1. Inquire carefully into- your humility. It is not for nothing that Christ bath said so muchof the excellencyand necessityof this grace ; when he bids us learn of him to be meek and lowly ; when he blesseth'the meek and poor in spirit; when he setteth a little child in the midst of them, and telleth them, except they become as that child, they could not enter into the kingdomof heaven; when he stoopeth to wash and wipe his disciples' feet, requiring them to do so by one another. How oft doth the Holy Ghost press this .upon .us l commanding us to submit ourselves to one
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