MR. SPIRITUAL PEACE AND COMFORT. '387 and instead of it be the more in those duties which they are fit for, especially conference with judicious Christians, and cheerful and thankful acknowledgment of God's mercies. And thus have I showed you how far we may possibly exceed in God's service. Let me now a little apply it. It bath ever been the devil's policy to begin in persuading men to worldliness, flesh-pleasing, security, and presumption, and utter neglect of God and their souls, or at least preferring their bodies and worldly things; and by this means he destroyeth the world. But where this will not take, but God awaketh men effectually, and casteth out the sleepy devil,,usually he fills men's heads with needless scruples, and next setteth them on a religion not com- manded, and would make poor soúls believe they do nothing, if They do not more than God bath commanded them. When the devil hath no other way.left to destroy religion and godliness, he will pretend to be religious apd godly himself, and then he is al- ways over-religious and Over-godly in his materials. All over- doing in God's workis undoing; and whoever you meet with that would overdo, suspect himto be either a subtle, destroying enemy, or one deluded by the destroyer, O, what a tragedy could I here show you of the devil's acting! And what a mystery in the hell- ish art of deceiving could I open to you! And shall I keep the devil's, counsel? No: O that God would open the eyes, of his poor desolate churches at'last tó see it! The Lord. Jesus, in wisdomand tender mercy, establisheth a law of grace and rule of life, pure and perfect, but simple and plain ; laying the condition of man's salvation more in the honesty of the believing heart, than in the strengthf wit, and subtlety of a know- ing head. He comprised the truths which were of necessity to sal- vation in a narrow room; so that theChristian faith was a matter of great plainness and simplicity. As long as Christians were such, and held to this, the gospel rode.in triumph through the world, and an omhipotency of the Spirit accompanied it, bearing down all be- fore it. Princes and sceptres stooped ; subtle philosophy was non- plused ; and all useful sciencescamedown, and acknowledged them- selves servants, and took their places, and were well contented to attend the pleasure of Christ. As Mr. Herbert saith in his " Church Militant ; Religion thence lied into Greece, where arts Gave her the highest place in all men's hearts ; Learning was proposed ; philosophy was set ; Sophisters taken in a fisher's net. Plato and Aristotle were at a loss, And wheeled about again to spell Christ's cross. Prayers chasedsyllogisms into their den, And 'ergo' was transformed into Amen.
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