240 On the excellency of the Soul. fometime hear the word , but the time and all the charge they are at for their fouls , they look upon it even almoll as loft , and fo grudge it , and io would fain bee about fome thing for their bodies; fpeakto them about praying in their- families , they have bufinefs , and what is all their bufinefs for, but onely for their bodies ? Indeed wee fheuld rather turn our plea the other way , and bee loath to fpare time for our outward elate, rather than for our fouls, thofe immo_- tal fouls of ours ; it is a wonder how any one that knows the worth of his foul, can finde in his heart, but upon meer neceffity, and out of duty, to fpare time for his outward condition. The foul is dishonoured when the time and coil that is bellowed about it is grudged, as if it were meer- ly loll, and cart away. Sixthly, Again wee dishonour our fouls when as wee lay not up provtfion for them againft an evil day, this is a difho- nour put upon them. Seventhly, And laflly, you dishonour your fouls, when as you think to fatisfie them with any thing but God himfelf; if you thould have any of your friends that are of quality come ro your houfe, if you should fet a bowl of fwill be- fore them, and think to fatisfie their hunger that way, they would think it a great dishonour to them. Now if you do think to fatisfie your fouls with any thing herebut God him- Pelf , you do as it were bring bones to fer before a Prince. It was a fpeech unworthy of a man which wee read of in the Gofpel concerning rich Dives , Soul, Soul, take thine eafe, thou haft goods laid op .for many years. Soul, Soul, eat, drink,and rake thine eafe ; Why, what had that to do with eating aiad drinking? How unworthy was this, I fay, of one that had an immortal foul thus to fpeak : oh this is a great dishonour that is put upon the foul. Now then learn wee in a right way to put honour upon our fouls , and to love them , and make them bur Darlings; `and manifefl your love to your fouls, Firfl, By having your thoughts often upon them; wee ma- nifeft our love to a friend,by having our thoughts run upon him :
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