confinablewalking with God. 289 I sl isseas.mar. _ e ground in the world, but onely from the gall of graceleffe men ; yet let all thole which trucly feare God,takeheed how they give jail occafion thereunto. Affured ly it were farm better for him, whofoever he be, that a m iiftone were hang. ed about his necke, and he were drowned in the depth of the Sea ; then that by the continuance of hi3 cruel! and unconfci. onable dealings in the world, he limpid minifler full occafion to any rayling Rat;Thakely, to revile the fervants of theLi- vingGod, or to flander thatholy Profeffi on. Me thinkes, this one prefervative fhould be powerfull enough, to keepe the heart of every Chriflian from doting upon the world, or fuffling it tobe poffeffed thereof. It is this : Every Chrifli- an by a fruit full faith, may be alluredof a Crowne of Life, either by affuranceof adherence, or evidence ; or both. Now if but once a day he fhould take a ferious furvay of the glo- ry, everlaftingneffe, and unutterable excellencies of that Im- mortall Crowne ; me thinkes it were able fo to dull the edge, and diffolve the droffineffe of all earthly defires ; that they fhould never morebe able to heate, or harden his heart with immoderate or delightfulfrepote upon the vexing vanitiesof any worldly thing. I fay it againe ; me thinkes, if a man doe but once a day call the eye of his Faith upon that Crowneof life;which ourdeare Redeemer holds forus in his hand,ready to fet upon our heads when wee than be diffolved from this valeofteares ; the goodly glory thereoffhouldbe able todif- pell thefe mills of fading vanities, and hurtfull fumes ofho- nours, riches, and earthly pleafures ; which this great dung- hill ofthe World,heatedby the fire of mens inordinate lulls, doth evaporate and interpofe betwixt the fight of their foules, and the bliffe of heaven. Worldlineffe, earthly-mindedneffe, covctoufneffe, doth infinitely unbecome an heireof Heaven. Bee fired then, and frighted fromall inclinations and bend that way, by fuch ccn- fiderations as thefe I. It is a molt bafeand dunghill diftemper, which eater up, not onely all Religion and horsefly, manlineffe and rea- forr, natural( affadionand diferetion 5 , but even humanityal. ft 7
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