3 36 Chap. 39. an Expofition upon the Book of J o s. , Verf. 6 good as a Palace, and a barren Landasgood as a fruitful one, to acontented mind. Yet I cannot approve either their principle or practice, who have a kind of ambition (poflìbly they call it iaf-denial, and reckon it a high piece of their Religion)ta dwell, -as the wilde Ais, in the wildernefs; fuch are chofe popifh vota- ries, called Ilermices, from the wildernefs where they dwell Thefe indevotion (inch as it is) make the wildernefs their houle, and the barren Land their dwelling, that they may be free from the cares and temptations of this world; there retire themfelves utterly from convene with man, that they mzy more freely con- verfe with God (an excellent end, but that way to it is no where commanded by God) Let fuch remember, that God bath not appointed the wildernefs and defect places for mans dwelling, auidprodéfl but for the dwelling of wilde beafis : Let them alto remember, fotdudo corpo that they who have the wildernefs for their houle, may yet have 4s,f frets, the City in their hearts. It was raid byone of the Ancients; con- ohrudo.c :rdt cerning inch retirements, what doth it advantage us to have a 421). 23 folrtary place for our bodies, whit our fouls are sn the thickeff throngs of the world, There areonly two.cafes wherein men fhouid delire fuck fo litary places. Firfl, In cafeof perfecution, to get out of the hands and reach of cruel men. Thus David defired the wildernefs (Pfd. 55. 3, 4, ¶, 6.) Becaufe of the voice of the enemy, becaufe of the op- prejionof the wicked; for they call iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hateme my heart isfore pained withinme, and the terrorsof death are fallen upon me, &c. And what follo.veth ? 0 that ¡had wings likea dove, for thenwould 1fie away andbe at reff; Lo,tbes would Iwander afaroff, and remain in the wildernefs. Ir is better tobe in the wildernefs among favage beafls than to live among beallly favage men. The Apofil (Heb. r r. 38.) tells us the reafon why many worthy ones of the JewifhChurch (of whom the world was not worthy) inhabited the wildernefs ; They were faced andfawn afunder, andwere fainwith the fword, &c. And what then ? then they who remained alive, to avoid thole extre- mities, avoided the focietyof men, and wandred in defrrts, and in mountains, and in dens, and caves of the earth. In fuch a hot day we may chufe the fhadow of a defolate wildernefs, rather than a Cicy to dwell in. And thus it is Paid (Rev. t a. r 3,14.) yyhen
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