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S90
E'phefian.r
Chap.g.
VER.S.
Ecclef3.i
c.
rfì
2.
Daá.
Mac.6.t;:
Knowing that
fire
burnes we will not
touch
it
:
So
if
we knew
not
in
the letter, but fpiritually, fruitfully,
affedtively
that
fin
doth
bring
de-
ftrudlion,
we
would
recoile from
the
appearance of
it.if
we know that
doing thus or
thus,
we forfeit
a
band
ofany momcnt,how
careful! are
we
not
to
be
overtaken!
This doth
let
us fee
what maketh
fin
fo
rife, even this,that there
is
no
powerfullremembrance
of
judgement:
Beeaufe
fentence
is
not execu-
ted
jjieedily
again(l an evil!
work, therefore the
heart ofthe
fannes
of
men
is
fee
in them
to doe
evil
It
is
pitiful!
to
fee
how the world doth
change
fin
with
fin,fuperftitious fearwith groffe fecuriry:Our forefathers
were
afraid
of
painted fires.
We
have no confideration
ofthe
loffe
of
heaven
&
Godswrath which
is
a
confuming
fire:the devil!
bath made usworfe
then himfelfe,
for
he doth beleeve
judgement
and
tremble
:
this openeth
a
window
to
wickedneffe,
for
when the drunkard confiders not
his
heade-ach which
followeth, or the theefthinks
not
that
hemp
grows,
no
wonder
if
both
run
to their
wickedneffe.
It
muff
teach
us
our duty to labour
for an
effedluall
knowledge
of
the punifhmentoffinne,
that
it
may be a bridle
to
reftraine our
flefh
from
fin:
now our
hearts are
fenflefTe,and
if
they
know, yet
full
of
fe-
cret prefumption, fo
that
we
muff
pray to God
to
give
us
flefhy
hearts
that
we
may believe
and
tremble.
z.
It
is
to
be marked,
What
a
filthy
fanne Covetoufneffeis.
But before we confider ir, z. things muflbe opened.
t.
Who
is a
covetous man according
to
the Scripture.
2.
Why
he
is
an
idolater above
other
(inners.
For the a. there
are y.
rules
of
Covetoufneffe.
t.
He
that
feeketh
goods with
negledl
ofheavenly things,
fo farre
forth
as
he
doth
negledl
the things
of
his
falvation
,
he
is
Covetous;
look
Luke
I2.15
.2
1. Take heed
and
beware
ofCovetoufne/fc
:
and v.
2
t.
So
is he
that
layeth
up
treafure
for
himfelfe
and
is
not
rich
towards
God.
And therefore Chrift
telling his Difciples
what
kind
of
Peeking
wealth was free from Covetoufneffe, hegivcth them
this rule,
Fir]l
lick the
kingdome
of
God
and
his righteeufneffe;
In
the
firfl place
with
your
principal!
flrength,
as
if
he
Mould
fay,
if
you chiefly
leek
other
things,
you
are
wrong, worldly,
like
the heathenthat
know no greater
matters.
2. He
that
finfully
doth
make after
wealth
and
doth hold
it finful-
ly,
is
covetous:
For
the
firft,
he
doth not
alone finfully
get
it
thardea-
leth unjuftly,
that by
lying ,couzening, opprefling commerb
to
it,
as
many doe,
of
whomwe may
fay
as
Chrift doth by the
covetoufneffe
of
the Pharifees,their
cups
are
ful
ofrapine: but
he
that
unbelievingly,
felfe-
confidently, hard-heartedly,
doth follow the
world,is
covetous;
therefore our Saviour forbidding covetous courfes,charged
his
Dif-
ciples
not to be
careful!,
which
is
not
meant
of
the care
of
a
commen-
dable
diligence,
but
of
diftruflfull
cares
of
the
fucceffe,which
make
us
unfit
to
call upon
God,
yea
to
follow our butnes:
So
exceffive
labours
multiplying
of
lawful!
pradlices
in
themfelves which
doth
come
from
unbe
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