Bolton - Houston-Packer Collection BX9339.B65 A2 1641

ooest7.., 94 Generall direaions fora thereof, should be both a precious corrafive to eate out the heart of corruption, and a fpeciall prefervative to keepe from finne; fich finne was theprincipal) in slaughtering the Lord oflife. a. To can the eye of his hope upon the glory, everlaflingnefle, and unutterable excellencies of thatim- mortall íhining Crowne above; which after this life (and this life isbut abubble,a fmoake, a shadow, a thought) fhàll be fet upon thyhead by the handof God : a very glimpse of thegoodly fplendour and ravishing beautie whereof, is able both to fweeten the bitterest villanies and bafeft wrongs fromthe world andwickedmen; and todifpell thofe mills offading vanities and hurtfull fumesofhonours, riches and earthly pleafures, which this great dung-hill of theWorld, heated by the fireof inordinate lulls , is wont toevaporate and interpolebetwixt the fight ofmens foules and the bliffe of Heaven. V I. Bee very watchfull over thymost predominant and troublefomepaffion ; whether it beefeare, sorrow, love, an- ger, &c. All of themare unruly and raging enough, butyet commonly one over-rules all the reft,and playes Rex (as they fay) in the unregenerateman ; nay, too often offers to rife in rebellionevenagainf themolt fan6lified foule. Whatfoever it be, i . In thyprivate morning facrifice, bee fore to lay on loade of deepest groanes and strongest cryes for mortifying grace against it, and comfortable conquest over it. Let that period and paflageofthy prayers bee infor- ced and enlarged with an extraordinary pang of fervencie, and feelingly fealed, as it were, with the moil Seraphicall Sehah. 2. Cut off all occafions, whatfoever it colt thee, which may any wayes flirre, awakenandkindle it. With- draw the fewell that ministers food unto that paf ionate flame, though it should bee as painefull unto thee, as the plucking out of the right eye, or the cutting off thy right hand. Affuredly , the pleafuresof inward quiet, and fweete fpiritutll calmenefleof thy fo undiflempeted Soule, will infi- nitely remompence any paines in oppofitions and refinance that nature. 3. Confider ferioully beforehand what a deale

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