274 Generall ái-reffroras for a hard-beartedneffe, unmercifùlnefl'e, whereas then-delves; f ; meere men of this world,are as covetous as their skinnewill hold ;fait nailed and glued unto theearth; never in their life lift up a joyful! thought towards heaven, neitherdare think ferioufly upon the world to come, without a great dealeof !lavifh fadneff and fecret terrour. And in their grafping ot` worldly goods, they care not a button for confcience, make noaccount at all ofthat molt certaine ?rift account at Gods dreadful! Tribunal! but onely how to carrie matters fmoothly and plaufibly in theeyes ofmen, and daube over their uni Lift dealings, with ciofe conveyances, and trickes of wit. .I goe not about here to Apologize for any uncharitable counterfeits, or thofe molt odious oucfide-Chriftians, who put on the glory of an Angell in outward pro eflìon, that they may play the devil's more unobfervedly, in (_!furious pra&ifès, opprefflions, and unconfcionable griping ; weare a cloa'te ofzeal.e,inconformitie to theexternaliformes ofobe- dience ofthe fill}Table,uponpurpofe tocover their crueltie and inhumanitie, in under -mining and over-reaching t' ieir brethren,and to prey the more invifiblyupon the fimplicitie of thofe whom they deceive by Seeming. But yet Imuft tell you, that many times, even force of Godsowne bell children are full falrely and foully charged, by foulemottthed worldlings themfelves,with worldlinege, covetoufiefe, and imputations ofthat nature; whobyGods mercy, are fo farre fromdoting upon earth, and the fading glory thereof, that in their retired and advifed thoughts, they would not lofe the love, and light of Gods counte- nance, and teftimonie ofa good confcience, towinne the whole world : they would! not exchange their comforts of godlineff,,and intereft in a Crowne oflife, for ten thouftnd worlds, were they all turned into one invaluable Pearle: They feele thernfelves incomparably more comforted and kindely refrefhed at the heart roo:e, withone thought of heaven, and chat endle1lèjoyfuli reír above, through all eter aiitie,thenwithaworld ofearthly contemplations, though all
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