( 36) mufi te11 yoE~ aU thefe folowing points, that will £hew you tha·r Religion is not i:o be blamed for it, nor avoided. I. I.t is ordinarily p!;!rfons of the wt~~k!r[tx, or of 1Jer; mak._ lm~tins andwtrJ ft rong paffion!, that are vaturallJ indined ro it, and .are nor able to bear any long and ferious thoughts , about matters of that moment, which are apt to make the deepefr im– _pre:ffions : But perfons that naturally are of found and calrne <lifpofitions, are fddorn trOl.lbled with aHy fuch affects. . 2 . It is uf1.1ally tqe cafe of perfons that miftakf the nature of Religion, though not in the main, yet in f(;)me particulars of greac concernment : That fiudy no£ fufficiently the Love of God de· dared to us in our Redeemer, bt1t feed their griefs and troubles only by the thoughts of thdr own infirmities ; and that con– fider not that the chief part of Religion dorh confifi in Love , and Joy in the Holy G!10fl:, and in Than.kfgiving and delightful. praiflng our Creator. So that it is not long of Jedigion if men will leave out the chief parts of Religicn, and make them– felves a Religion of fo- mud1 only as may breed their tro11ble. 3. And I mu!l: further tell yon , that as I have had oppor– tunity of knowing the flare of as many tronbled diftempered miads, as any one of you c : 110ever he be ; fo I rnufi needs bear wirnefs, that I have met w. hnMnJ that have been aiflraUed by "'Worldlr caru, or-forrows, or di[contents. for on~ that ever I knew difiraded with the carfs about the matter of their falvation.. And yet though it be worldlycAre and forrorp that rnofi com– monly bringechduuh and madmfs, you will not therefore gi ve ()Ver your Callings, and refolve that you will meddle no more with mear, or drink, or cloathes, or houfcs, or lands, or ·friends, -or children : Nay it were well if y would ee brought to moderation , and taken off your inordinate defires. 4. And yet in the conclufio'n I mufl: tell you, that, thougo 1 know that the Iofs of a mans uJaderilanding is a very grievous aff!idion, andfuch as I hope God will never lay upon me, yet I had a thoufand times rather go clifiradcd to Bedlam with the ex(effive care about my falvation; then be one of you that ci1.fl away the care of y.our falvation for fear· of _being di– iracted, and will go among the infernal Bed/arm into · hell f0r fear of being mad. The height of your carnal wifdom is· more · 6leplo~ab1~ !h~~ ~~e~! diflr:~tfli!1!~ ~~r 9od wil~ cmdemn no· man.
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