Bolton - Houston-Packer Collection BX9339.B65 A2 1641

-.--.11... General dire ions for it which naturally and ordinarily lurkes in the heart of every prophane man, may bee fometimes reftrained foradvantage; and in policy; by accident, and for by-refpeets: The fting and furie of it maybe weakened,and leffened by the ingenu- oufne%of the unregenerate man , or by other goodnatural and morrall parts in the Chriítian. Nay, I doenot fee, hut that fometimes it maybee, as it were, quite dafht, and con- founded by the extraordinary innocency , and heroical height of fpirituall excellencies in agood man : As Moralifts fayofvertue, that though it bee ordinarilyattended by envie, as the bodywith a fhadow,. yet it may grow faincompara- ble andglorious , thatenvie is glad tobide its head, and fie away likeaweake mill from the Sun fhining inhis ftrength. Affoone asvertue, fay they, is growne out of ignorance, fhet entrethby and by into envie, till mounting aloft, as the Sun being verticali abateth all fhadowes ; fo theein the top, and. height of perfeaion,all envie. Whymay it not be fo in zeale andpiety, that though it bee ordinarily perfected with ex- treme hatred;, yet fometimes it may attaine that extraordi- narineffe, incomparableneffe and excellency, that hatredmay even hate itfelfe,for oppofing fuckunreprooveable fancîitie ? But to my purpofe: If it be fo, that a prophane man cannot poffibly love a Chriflian heartily for his 'Chriftianitid. Grace, but rather maiicioufly andmortally hate him ; wiat heart can aChriftianhave to converfe intimately and delight.. fullywith a prophane man ? Who would ever vouchfafe his company, and afford the bell of his time, and dearel of his affections, to a fellow,which difdaines and defpifes the molt precious Iewell he beares about him , I meane his religious. zeale; and labours powerfully, though infenfibly, to dimme the brightneffe, and diftaine the glory of it; either by the contagion of his notorioufneffe, or at leaf, by his formalitie, coldnefle,and unzealoufne(lè ? 5. Fifthly, no Chriftian ought to enter league,or entertaine fellowfhip with the enemies of God. It is abfurd, that a. member of Chrift fhould exercife familiaritie, and intimate pallages of love witha limbe ofSatan. What earthlyPrince could:

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