December 28., 1662. 377 Thirdly, We mAtfi not pry into the Ark; this Was the fin of the men of Bethfheme(h, t Sam. 6. 19. They looked into the Ark, and God frmote them, and cut offfifty thoufand and threefcore men. Be not too curious in fearching wbere God bath nor difcovered or revealed : For example, there be great thoughts of heart, when God will deli- yer his people, and fet his Churches at liberty ; And manymen talk miichoftheyear ,'I666Ahat (hall be the year:wherein Antichria (hall be deftroyed : 4.nd there are grange impreffions upon the hearts of many learned men , as to this year ; fome. go to the year 669. and others pitch upon other times; but truly it you will have my judgement, and I am glad of this opportunity to tell you, This is to pry too much into the A,rk: Remember thatText, Aets T. 17. It is notfar you to know the times or the feafons,Fhich the Father bath put in his own power. And thus to conclude Upon any particular time , if You findyou are deceived , it is the way to make you AtlieAs , and that afterwards you !hall believe nothing : And thole Minifters, do no fervice, or rather ill fervice to the Church of God, that conclude `c)f.timeSand feafons. APopifh Author faith, That in the year one thoufand, there was a general belief over the Chriftian world, that the day of judgement fhould be that year ; but when they faw it happened not , they fell to their old finning again andwere worfe then before, and I. eliev- ed nothing. Well, Gods time is the belt , therefore let not us pry too mach into the Ark. Fourthly, You mull not meddle with the Ark , unlefs you have a lawful Call to meddle with it: This was the fin of Ilz,z4,2 the Ark was indanger of falling, aria he good man meaning no hurt to keep up the Ark, took hold of it ; but he deitroyedhimfelf , and made a breach, and kindred the carrying home of the Ark. We had a great diforder heretofore; abundance of well-meaning people ufurped upon the Minifterial Office'; they were afraid the Arkwas falling, and therefore they touched the Ark, they laidhold on the Ark ; -15uttheir touciling the Ark bath undone the Ark , and themfelves too. 0 take heed of touching the Ark. Fifthly,If ever you would preferve the Ark , then Reep the Co- venant of the Ark, keep the Law which the Ark preferves: The Ark was a place wheiein the Lawwas kept , the two Tables ; keep the 'Law, and God will keep the Ark ; abut if yon break the Liw you will forfeit the Ark : TheArk was called the Ark of the Covenant ; keep COVenant with God, and GOd will preferve the A k ; but if :you break the COvenant of the Ark, the CoVenant made in Baptifni, and that CoVenant often renewed in the Sacrament ; if you break Covenant, God will takeaway the Ark. CCC 2,
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