46 Generad! directions fora wrath, by the prayers, prefence, and acceptationof filch holy Ones. We fee in mens carriages tohumane lawes, that even feare of them reftraines many from many lawleffe outrages, and congraines to many civili conformities , againft which their fenfuall hearts andhumours doe infinitely rife and re- claime,withmuch diftafieand averfion. Doe younotthinke, that many drunkards would as well live in murther, andup. on the fpoyle, as in their prefent abominable fwinifhnefie; did they not hold it a more horrible thing to be hanged, then to pay five fhillings, or fit in the1ockes ? Would not many at Sermon-time, rather be in the Ale-houfe, than in the Houfe of God, were not the conftitutions of men a curbe unto their corruptions? Would not force defperate wretches as well firike thorow at once, and quite_difpatch thofethey hate,askill them all the yeere long,with their cruell thoughts and bloody malice; were not thoughts free,and a&uall mur- ther deathby the lawesof men ? Would not many malicious Papifts, thinke you, aswell fpeake traiteroufly of the King, as teare Gods gloriousname wich their oathes, andblafphe- mous tongues;were they not terrifiedwith feareofTyburne? It may be fo proportionably in mens behavioas towards di- vine Lawes , the holy Statutes of Heaven , and thathigheft Tribunali. But as in the former we ought to be fubje&, not Om 13 5 oneyfor swath,but altofor cenfciencefake, fo in the latter much more, not onely for terrourof Gods Iudgement; but alfo for loveof his Truth. A worthy Divine fummes up all I would fay in this point,thus : Sometimes, faith he, thefeare of Gods Judgements, as of the racée , of an aceufsng confcience,of the tormentsof hell- fire, &c. holdeth men inaflavifhobedience. I fearemee, there are too many abroad in the world, efpe- cially greatOnes, who by forbearanceof other groffe finnes, towhich their fenfhall affeEtions are not fo indeared , out- ward performance of fomeholy duties, formal). prefence at religious exercrfes , countenancing , and patronage of godly N.initters and good men, hope to make amends , as it were, And topurchafe proteiion and difpenfation, for the ven- geance
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