( s· . . 4) JJi/hep1: or by all the P'aftors ? and the like) It .is not of fgcfl things as thefe that I am pleading with thee : Though fome of them are matters of conGderable moment, for the helping or .hindring men in g?dlinefs; yet it isg:Mter matters then thefe,that I amtnow contendmg for. Agree w1th us praElically in the fub– ft,mce, in FPlith, Repentance, Love, Obedience, Mortificati!Jn ' fleavenlinefs, Humility, Patience, and {eriom diligence and ~ea j m all, and then I am none of thofe that will condemn or cenfure you,; but one that will rej~J]Ce inyou, as thofe that I hope to re'"' joyce with for ever. · .. But if it be the fubjfantial dutiesof godlinefs that yon refill; while you own but theName of godHnefs in the general, I mufr tell you that it is not '2'{1.mes andGenerals that will fave you; nor prove that you have your felves one fpark of Grace. Nothing more ea fie and common then for the rnofl: ungodly to[a] , they are allfor ag6dly life; and God forbid that (zny foeuld be 11gainjl it; when yet they hate and rejerJ it indeed, when it comes to the praC!ice of thofe particular duties in which ic doth confift. It is not godlinefs that they hare and reproach, but it is fervent prarer~, , ~ holy conference, meditation-, felfdenyal, mortification of the defires 4 the flejh, heavenly mitdedne(s, &c. Ingeneral, they will fay ·that Geds Ldwmuft be obeyrd, and his Will preferredbefore their own : But when it comes to the particulars , they Love him not above all, they take his mme in vain, they keep not holy his day, they difobey fuperiours that wonld reform them, they are envious,. malicious, covetous, lufl:ful, and break all the Commandements in particular, which ingeneral they profefs to keep. As if your fer.. , vant fhould promife eo do your work; and when you fee him to it, one thing is toohard, and another he is t.J.Ot u{ed to, and fo he · hath his exceptions againfi the greateft pan which he undertook. As if one fhould wound one of you in the head, and fl:abyou eo the hearr, and cut off an arm or a leg, and fay , I wifh the man– :4-0 harm; It u not the man that 1hate or hurt , Pnt only the head, the heart, the arm, &c. Even fo , it is nr;t holinefs that thefe mm hate, and fpeak againfl: ; but it isfo muchpraying, and?rteditating,. at1d reading the Scripture.J, a·nd makjng{uch11jlir about .Religion~ when lefs ttdo 11MJferve the turn. ~ ' . . _, Bm wretched foul if thoa have not the Wlt tO fee the cona tradictions of thy d;ceitf~l tongue, and the venome of chy malignant h~at·t, ~oft thou think that fuch fottiili fbifts ~s. the~e . -- --- ~ ---- ----·-- ------ -~-- --·---- -- ------· - ·- ·- - Wlll
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