comfortable n'alkingwith God. .i 39 with prayer, premeditation, watchfulneffe, &c. to purifie and preterve their owne foules from fpirituall infeEtion. a. Secondly, in cafeof owne fafetie ; but fo, that in fo doing, thy fincereheart be not confcious unto it felfe, of (lavifh diftrufl, falfe feares, prejudice of Gods provi. dence, reliance upon the armeofflefh,&c. But that it appre- hend and approve upon good ground, and out of an holy wifedome,the prefent occafion,whether of invita:ion or v! fitation, as a comfortable meanes offered by Gods good hand tomitigate the malice, and mollifie the hearts of thofè which might doe thee a mifchiefe.it was the fayingofa wife man,that bee would rather have a Dogge to fawne upon him thanbarke at him ; and barke at him only, than bite him. Whereby hee intimated thus much, asI conceived; that Gods Childrenfhould not out ofanauftere, fowreun- warrantable retirednefl'e, exafperate and enrage unneceffa- rily the too much already alienated affeecions ofthecontra- ry minded ; but fo farre as they may, without wound of confcience,ftaine oftheir innocency,or imputationof fpiri- wallcowardlineff, obferve themwith filch commonoffices ofhumanity, Whichmay dif-infierce and keepe them, ifnot hearty friends, yet atleafi (which in thefe cormptef' and angry timeswee holdadegreeofhappineffe) moderate and ingenuousenemies. I foalsmay be an infiance in this fecond cafe,who-for a more confident fecuring of himfelfe,and core fortable fetlingofhis peace, invitedAbimelech and his fol.. lowers toaFeaft, Gen.26.3o. To the fame purpofe Iacob Pent a prefent to Efate, Genet. 32.2x. and promifèd to vi= fit him at Seir, Genet 33. 24. But now at fuch times, and in fuch company, thou bade} need put on a great deale of courage and patience, wifedomeand watchfiilneffe; and warily decline two obvious errours, & dangerous extremes; . furious zeale,and faint-hearted filence ofwhichfeebefore., pag. I t9. 3. Doe not ,fo-dítf. ine thy worth andworthyhopes ; difcover not Euchextreme weakeneffe andtrue bafenefie of minde t refemble not fo neere the fearefull follyof obnoxi.
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