Rules and helps to Chrifitiin mee1e ieffe. have of the people of Ifrael, read but the 2._ òr 3. Chapters of Exod. Chap. i 5. towards the latter end, there you find that the people did chide with /moles becaufe the waters were bit - ter, well they were not humbled:for thi .And in the 16. Chap:. you find them at it again, though God was merciful! to them then, yet when they came to anozher f}raighc they were froward and angry a ain,and when God delivered'them there,. you shall find them at it again, In the I7ì Ch: 2. ver: fo that upon every new occafion they fall to it again, why becaufe we do not find that in the interim they were humbled for their former dillempers , therefore you that have filch froward diflempers, ô,get alone, and apply the fait tears of humiliation un.o thecholler of yours, and fee what this will doe,humilia- tion for that that's raft, will be a fpecial helpe for time to come. . Fourthly, If you would have meek and quiet fpirirs, take heed of the firft beginning of paflìdn, we know that when a fire is,we do not flay quenching of it til.the houfe be all in a flame: but if there be but a little fire kindled in anypart of the hòufe,, if there be but a fmoak, you will fly, where is it, and are not quiet till you find it out, fo fhould it be, when) paflion begins to arife, your house begins to be on a fire, your fouls begin to be on fire, and you fhould be as much fec upon quenching of is at the firft riling as you would be when you fee the fire breake out in your house at the very firft, perhaps a dill ofwater may quench that now,that if you flay but till halfe an house hence,. many pailes of water will not, fo it is in the point of paCfion, if fo be that people would be carefull' at firft, then with a little adoe they may quench their paffion if they will take it when their paffionbegins to kindle,but flay a svhile,and there will he. no rule at all, no coming neer a man : Sopoyion, take it as loon: as ever a man feels his body diflempered, and there may tae means to .help againfl ir, but if you flay a while till it bath got power'over narure, there will be little help then: Olook upon paffion as ifit were poyfon, and cake fome remedy prefently, let not your paffion be working any longer :' fo a feavor,. it'often times maybe cafily curedat #ïrft, fo paffion, it is a fea- vo;
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