30 Iv. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. I. oleffions, andCafeso,f' Confeience about Jffe6tionr,&c. Chap.' By fin we deface Gods Image in us, and fo are in,uriousnot only to our felves, but to God, out Father and King. Vicious perfons profane their bodies and foules, the Temples cf thz Holy Gho!l, whom they put forth of his juft poffèßîon by their wickednetle. The dreadfuljudgments threatned in Scripture, and infliRed for tin, fhould deter us from it : It call Adam out. of Paradifc : drowned the old wmid ; ca{l the Angels òut of Heaven, &c. But efpecially the bitter fuffering of our cru- cified Saviour in foul and body are the monuments of tin, and rnemó; ials of' our .wicked life. The extream wrongwe offer toGod by it, tranfgreflin4 his Law, pervertin; his order, injuring his infinite goodttelè, defpifing his Majefly, and !hewing our felves ungrateful for his love, fhould above all dillwade us from tin, By vice our foules are fpoiled of their'riches, their mofl preciotís rebcs, and heavenly attire, are made the very dens of .devils, and therefore we should a-. void ir. No day nor hour pafieth, wherein appear not fome filent Sermons to per- t-wade us to avoid fin, and follow goodnefle. As 6ckrielles, plagues, pains, difea- fes, &c. and death of others Phew us what is thewages offin. By fin we abufe Gods mercies tohis great difhonour : Like ungrateful debtors who oppofe their Creditors with their own goods.: By it, we abufe our foules and bodies with all the powers andparrs which we have received fromGod, by making them inflrumentsof his difhonour. All creatures made by God for curufe, exclaim againft a vicious lif.: the Sun gives lis-ht to wvoa ks of light, andnot ofdatkneffe, &c. The exquifiteand eternal torments of Hell; and the loffe of the beatifical vi- fhould warne us to Aie from fin, and purfuegood. Queft. Boa it it not fervile to foregoefrr:na far fear ofpunifhnent ? Anfw The Scripture commands the godly tofearhim that as able to calf both foulandbody into hell, Mat. ro. a8. Heb. 4. f. and z. 3. and to. 26. Feare of eternal wrath, as it makes men avóid finne, may well {land with con- fident aflurance of eternal happineffe, and final perfeverance. Queft. May theflare ofourfoulbe difeernedby our affellions ? Anfw. Yea : we may know our dine tobe good, by our embracing of good things, byour joy anddelight in them, andbyour wonderment at them : As, Oh, how I love thy Law .I Pfaff. '19.197, Onedayjnthy Courts, it better' thin a thoufand ilfewhers, Pfal. 84. ro. Oh the depth ofhis ("Mercy, Rom. t,. 3 3. One rhino- haveI defiredof the Lord, and. Iwalldefare ir, c c. Pial. 2,7. 4. when, the foul (lands in admiration ofGodand good things ; ready to welcomChia andheavenly things, and in comparifòn thereof to count all bur dung, &o. A man is then in agoodelate, when heating of the excellency of heavenly things, he is exceedingly affeëtedtherewith, and gives them a' room in his heart. It Asewes out faith tobe true : For where there is true faith, there is alwayes love, joy and delight in the things believed : andon the contrary, deadneflèin affe6tions, difcovers Atheifm andUnbeliefin the heart. Quell. How happens at then, that Gods children fometimes, even when their judgements are convinced, yet finde their affeElions lo flat, crying out Alm! that I fhouldbelievefuck happineffe as heaven,fuchglory, andyetfhould havemy affellhons t o morefurred inme ? Can l be achilde of God? Anfw. Sometimes the Judgement may be convinced, and yet the affe&ions not fo quick, r. Becaufe theremay be fome divifion at the fame time, as fome prefent cróffe, or force prefent thing lawfully roved thatmay take up our affe6tions at that time. 2. Gods
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