comfortable walking with: God. 23I 4. Fourthly, though carnal. men be lo covetous= and hold-fait of earthly contenttìjents and they would rather . lofe their precious foules everlalingly, than leave them: yet if it might be, if they were poflìbly. compatible, they would give any thing in the world ; both to ferve and fatif- fiethemfelves in thewayes ofvanity, and after to lavetheir foules in the dayof wrath ; both topartake of thepleafures ofthe prefent, and tobe fecured from the vengeance that is to come. What would not the great Ones of the world give, to purchafe twoHeavens; one here, andanother in the other world? what would not fenfuall, woridlings part with to redeeme their finnes, if they might have adifpenfa- tion to continue in finne ? To live the life ofvanirieand luft, and after to die the deathofthe Righteous, and to receive their Crowne ?In fuch cafes in their lober confideraLions (fo that their prefent temporall happineffe fuftaine no hazard, or diminution; nor the delights of their fweet finne, any di. iturbance) they would not (rand upon any worldly good; though it were a thoufand Rammes, or ten thoufand Rivers of Kyle : Nay, they would give their firs -borne for their tranff grefons; even the fruiter of their bodies, for the finne of their Many there are which may be eafily perfwaded, and canwell finde in their hearts, to give any thing towards the fervice of God, and falvation oftheir foules ; lave themfelves; I meane, their hearts and affe&ions, which the world and their darling-pleatres ;have principallypoffeft. Hence now it is, that many rich Ones and menof the world, beingother- wife very guilty, and obnoxious inmany refpeas, are very willing and well content many times tocontribute bounti- fully to good ufes, and co make good thewof liberalitie to- wards the poore ; that thereby. leihe notice may be takenof their other notorioufneffe;and with fome kiudeofhope, fo to cover and conceale manygrofie corruptions from the wrath ofGod, and the worlds cenfure. For Iknownot how there isan imbred opinion andconceit hated in the hearts of na- :turall men and Papifts, that almef -deeds, and fuch workes of charitiemake amends for other mifcarriages, though foule, T 4 aid
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=