Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v4

Chap. a g.. evil, another feeth and catcheth it, he is infected , and defiled with it : That's the reafonwhy David ( as force conceive ) was foexceeding ftri& in this point ( Pfal. i o1.7. ) He that worked: deceit 'hall not dwell within my bole , he that telleth lies /hall not tarry in my fight, his wickednefs may fpread, it may poifon theheart ofa King, I will not put my felf upon the temptation. The Apoftle (Heb. t e' i 5 . ) warns the Church of this danger, left any root of bitternefs fpingingup troubleyou, and therereby many be defiled. Though this uncleanneffe doth not infest by imitation only(whichwas theerrour of Pelagius) yet it inefts ftrongly and commonly by imitation ; Hence Moires chargeth the peo- ple ofIfrael to have nothing todo with the Canaanite!, left they . fhould bemilled by their example. And when theyafted againit this rule, they quickly broke all rules, (Pfalm 06. 3 6. ) They were mingled with the Heathen ( then immediately follows) and learned their works. Hemeans not worksof Art, or Agriculture, of peace, or war, butof falfe worfhip and idolatry . they fer -. 'vedtheir idols whieh wasa fnare unto them. Evil men endanger thegood, as badhumours do the blood, or an infected hotife the whole neighbourhood. Sixthly, It is a bewitching and enfnaring uncleannefs , All the bodily beauty in the world did never entice fo many as the deformity and foul face of fin bath. It was Prophecied ofChrift ( in reference to his outward appearance) He hath no form nor comelittfs, there is no beauty that we Jhould delre him. Hence the Prophet forefees what entertainment he was like to finde in the world He is defpifedand rejefled of men, we, as it were, hid our facesfrom bim and we effeemed himnot, Ifa. 5 3 . 2,3 . Beauty andcomelineffe are the attraftives, the Loadftone ofLove.Chrift was not loved becaufe he did not appear beautiful : Luft is loved thoughit be unbeautiful : There is no form or comelineffe in fin, nothing why it fhould be defined, yet it is admired and bighly efteemed by all forts ofmen. They dote upon it , and tun mad with Love for it , as the Choiceft Beauty in the world. Seventhly, it is a murderous and a mortal uncleanneffe, there is no efcapingdeath ifwe live in it. This uncleanneffeBoth, not only fpoil our inward beauty, andput the foul out of fafbion, but it deftroyes the life of the Soul, it is the ruine as well as the difhonour ofman. D d dd 2 Now An P.xjiofitian upon the goófvofJon. Verf:¢. 57

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