comfortable walking withGod. 153 high God,their Redeemer. Neverthelefe, theydidbutflatter him with their mouth : and they liedunto himwith their tongues. For their heart was net right with him, Pfal.78.34,35, 36,3T. 5. The manes mull bee good, Otherwife, bee the end never foexcellent; let therebee never fo exaa and abfolute concurrence cf all other caufes ; yet the glory and comfort ofthe anion is quite darkened, and defperately empoyfoned to the man, that willingly, and againff the cryofanillight- ned confcience, imployes andputs his hand to any wicked means for the atchicvement. Suppofe that by a lie, thou couldefl fateamans life, his a foule, the foules ofall the men a Ad fempiteern . uponearth; nay, winne thereby unto God as much glory,as cenáu ettopäa- aecrewes untohim by all creatures ; yet for all this, on thy lame mendacio. part all were b naught. For it is a facredPrinciple, fealedun- .Ang.de rnendayo 4,1d7 dC,mrent ca. 19 Rom. 3. . toby truth itfelfe; Wemuff dowo ill, thatgoodmaycome thereby, b sed eaqaecon ftat die peccate, nullo bone caufz 6. The circumffances mull bee feafonable. For inftance: obtenu, nullo Perfonall and private prayer, is a right precious facrifice qua& bono fine, n bona andfervice : but let it bee feafonable for the circumftance intentuil ions velut facien- ofplace, or elfe it may loofe its fweet-fmelling favour in the da runt. Contra noftrils of God, and bee tainted with " Pharifaifme. The sveMlnriemrad clofet, or fome retired place, is fit for this exercife, which the « cum ubique more fecret, the more fincere ;. not the cSynagogues, IndOPonglo,á corners f thefreets, which was the Pharifèes vaine-glorious habere wont who fóu ht more for praife of men, then pleafing usac vacuum, g p p g tamén in orations of God. Meditationupondivine myfkeries, and quickning ptecipne.. chryr fpirituall points, isan excellent, and acceptable exercife, fo it mat 19. in cyq.á. keepe its owne turne, and be confindeto afit time : but in the Mattb.6.$. heateofthe Preachers powringeut his foule for us in prayer 414.12.43,. at thethrone of Grace, it is f nfull, becaufe unfeafonable. Calling to mind ferioufly force fpeciall pafláges formerly heard, or read, to prefle themwith more life and power uponthe confcience, it is a right needfull, and religious du- tie : but foto doeat aSermon, in tinging a Pfalme, or when wee ought to bend all the powers of our foules, and bell attention to the prefent , is but one of Satans trickes in the glory of anAngel, tomake us guiltyof the contempt, and rob
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=