146 Generadirectionsfor a p&artieufar knowledge , that bee never let himfelfe to feeke God with any confcience or conilancy ; but is utterly un- acquainted withthe myflerie ofgodlineffe, family-exercifes, fantifcationofthe Sabbaths, contribution to the Saints, ex- ercifes of mortification , felfe-deniall : I fay, thou bearefh fuck aman commended for his Religion, for wardneflé, and the feare of God, which commendation, if bee carry away withoutcontrachetiorr, the rell of the company maybee ve- ry greedy to apprehend fuch a prefident, and refolve not topaffe his Pitch of proftflìon, as unaccompanied with fuch pause and precifeneffe; andyet approoved by wife and un- derllanding men, ashopefull and comfortable. Now in this cafe, itmay concerne thee, but with as much wifedome, dif- cretion,.and charitieas thou canil poffibly, to difroabe fuch . a fellowof his undeferved attributions, and the reputationof that holineffe which he ne-ver had ; leftboth the By-ílanders bee heartened to come fhort of Heaven, and the power of Chriftianitie bee difparaged by an ignorant andhurtfull un der-valuation.) 3. Thirdly, bee filent from all unfavory communication; non as lying, fwearing, prophane, fooliíh, filthy a jelling.; jelling ut alms fzli- bus cuffs mordeas, out of Scripture, mocking and making Gods people as cut t'& grati- b Mtsfcke at feaits, merry meetings, and crirfed conventiclei Cbrfelt. sn Epfi. of Good}feliowfhip ; and fuch other rotten,.. ribald' and ad Epher cal s Bedlam talke ; which , becaufe they are the knowne and- Seim. t . s am,, proper language of the fonnes of Bclial,the dung, froth, and damned evaporation of drunken wits;, Chriflians, whom alone I labourtodire& in this point , are not in fuch danger of,_ and therefore I have nothing to doe with them- at this time. I II. Pray for, and prabtife an holy and difcreet dexteria tie, to divert anddraw from prophane tnd wicked, or too much worldly and ordinary talke, to more favoury con- ference , andheavenly difcourfe. Me thinkes, it is great pit- tie, that Profeffours fhould ever meete without force talke of their meeting in heaven, or of the bleffed meanes and wayes that leade thereunto, before they part. Yet many times,
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