V B R. 19. Ephelians, Cliap.z. ftomes mutt bettood too. If the law and their cuftuntc tnccr, to as they cannot be reconciled, law giveth place to cuftome: fomutt wee, if the fathionof the world,or the lasves ofmen yecld us this or that, yet if they come againft the cuftomeof this city , they mutt not bee admitted. This doth teachus our happinetfewhen we are brought tobelieve, and fhould provoke us unto faith. I Be ever, hap - It doth reach us,that the godlyare feta part from others, and mutt t' not leektobe priviledged in ftate ofthe world; we mutt not have to ! ci,i 4' of doe with that fpirituall Babell, nor feek freedome to follow the lufts of; Beria mnü this world: What agreement betwixt the citty whereof God is the i11OC°°,moni- Head,whereofSaints,j uft fpirits, fandified men are members,andthat ¡ó v eh Br whereofthe Devill isthe Head, evill Angelis, fpitits of unjuft men I and incarnate Devills are the citizens! Of the houfholdofGod.]Obferve hence,That allthe believing are can- Doff. r. jeyned amongthemfelvesasmembers of one family: To be fellow- I Beteevers are citi- zens, is tohe neare one another ; but to be of one and the felfe-fame au atone fa' famiy, is a more ftraite bond; and often wee are calledthe bon e o f iy. iÎcats., °. God, the hou/holdof faith: And in the Parable, God is brought in as an houtholder,and we as one joynt houfhold. Thewhich confiderationfhould ferveto increafe love ; wee being lee confined within one family , a common roofe under whichwee all drive live andboard, we mutt beeall of one heart, at peace and unity; and love anduni- the God of love and peacewillbe with us. z Cor. 5 3.11. `r Secondly, it is to bemarked that it is faid , wee are Gods harafbold. Dour. z. Now this is acircumftance full ofdivine meditations. It is Gods. fa. Firft, it doth teach us, how wee mutt live to him who is the miiy. matterofus all, every one faithfully feeking his advantage. Wee feet Yft r that all the houfhold is bound togive obedience tothe matter of it in eoa. the Lord. TheParable of the talents doth reach that God expedeth this; he giveth us all works to goe about, and looketh that we fhould be faithfttll in them,ifwedoe not,the Lordwill not beare it. Secondly, it doth teach ushow reproachfullto Godour frnnes are, 2. that profefi'eour felves to be his: thegoodbehaviour ofour houfhoids Sinnes di ho. are hispraife,the folly and fcapes committed in them , they turne to noun God, our ignominy whoare their governours. If any in the coantry live bean like,it difcrediteth not the good houfholdcr; why! Becaufe hee hath not taken them fo neare, as to undertake the guidance or care ofthem; but ifone ofour houtholds, ofour families, bee taken with theft or uncleanenefl'e, we that are governours , will bee branded with it: fo though Atheifts, and Papifts, and Epicures commit finne with greedinefl'e, Gods glory and nameheareth not ill from them in comparifon; but when thofe that will praife themfelves hishouthold, will walkecovetoufly,rioroufly, proudly, contentioufly, unchaftly, Godsname heareth ill: there are your G ofpellers, your forwardpro- fe!%uts,what commeth their Religionto they arc asgriping, as cove- tous,as contentious,as proud as the Divel!. But let this teach us, that if
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