166 New, Vain Hif1ories,and other mens Piatters,&c. vanity. Many-perfons have no fuch delight to read the ufeful hiftory of Church-affairs, as they have to read the curioufly penned, though lefs ufeful hiftoryof other matters. Though I know that the I-InIory of the whole world is very ferviceable to the know;edge of Divine things : yet they that ufe it to holfyends, will make choice accordingly, and be nomore in it thenmay fuit with chofe ends. It is the molt humane, with the molt light ,ridiculous paffages that are molt pleafing to vain unfantlified wits ; but the godlydelight in it fo far as it thews them fornething of God, and leadeth them to him. In the very reading of Scripture, a carnal reader may be much pleated with theHiftory, Sat hathno favour in the doarine, but is weary to read it : and yet I muff add this cautionby the way ; If we find a carnal kind of delight in Scripture- hiftoryor any other thatis profitable, we mull not therefore caft off the hiftory, but feekafter the cureof our difeafe, that we may fpiritually takepleafure in all for God, and he may be the beginning, and end, and the life, and the All of our flu- dies and delights : And though our carnal delight inNews and Hiftorybe a fin in us ; yet God doth fometime make it an oc- cafionof Good, by leading us to that holy truth, which after may be the means of cur fandification, though at firft we .received it but as Novelty. And fo the carnal pleafure that many have in hearing News, and fitting with folks that will talkof other mens matters, or things that concern themnot, is nothing but a finful pleafing of the fancy, and lots of time, and neglea of greater matters which call for all our time and care. It was thevice of the Athenians, AR '17 21. [ for all the Athenians and firangers that were ;here, Bert their time in notipigg elle but either to tell or to bear force Pew th,:.ng] yea novelty of doctrine and reli- gion, and teachers, is a fnare andbait to carnal fancies, which many are taken by, that are forfaken of God, having firft forfaken him, and proved falfe to the truth received. CHAP,
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