to god in Worfhip. preparing to holy duties, the fear of God it is mighty upon their fpirits at firft,and it should not be let's afterward ; the conftan- cy of Gods fear fhould bring their hearts to fuch a holy temper as to make them fit for holy dutiesalwaies. Secondly, Tholemen and women that any time fhall fin againft confcience, (ball commit fuch fins as fhall in a kind even lay waft confcience, fhall break their peace between God and their fouls they had need fpend fome time in preparation for holy duties, they cannot come into the pretence ofGod to en- joy communionwith God, but they had need beforehand be very ferious in the examination of their hearts, and toendea- vor the working of their hearts into mourning for their fin , and to labor to poffefs their fouls with the prefence ofGod even before theycome. Thefe two forts of people fuch as have not been accquainted with the waies ofGodlinefs, or fuch as have broken their peace with God by fome evil carriage of theirs towards God in fome vile way ( I fay ) it is requi- redofthem to be more folenin in the Work of Prepara- tion. 2. But now for the Second Cafe, which indeed is the main; Suppofe when we come toduties,8c begin to examine our beam, andbegin to bethinkour (elves whether we be prepared yea or no toholy duties, and we do not findour hearts prepared accord- ing to that that we do defire, Whether then we may lec the duty go for that time, and forbear the performance of it ;as fup- pole Prayer, or receiving the Sacrament, or coming to the Word or anyother holy duty? And the reafon of this doubt is, Becaufe when any man or, woman is confciencious, they chink with themfelves that they muft Sanetifie Gods Name in Holy Duties ; now if they cannot find their hearts in a E- difpofition to fanetifie theName of God in holy duties, they a re ready to think thus, Were is not better toneglett this duty and lay it afide for rbe.prefene Will Godaccept ofa duty when I perform ir, and am not fit for it d Therefore for the Anfwer to this, becaufe it is a tenipeation that fometimes carnal hearts have, and they are ready to take this temptation, and willing to negleet the due), upon fuch' a CY thought
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