76 TheflcondCIJmmdndtmtnt. · and not knowing the fitteH, theycon'lmitt'ed the inatteuo Gods fpeciall prouidence,in ca{Hng lots. · · · So inchufi~gaKing,(which·wasa matterofgreat impor~ tance) becau{e no firife and contention iliouJd arife, they x.Sam. t o . call lots,and fo chofehin1,whomGod pointedat, as it were ~~. by the finger. The like theydid in diuiding.the landofCa– naan : left any emulation or enuie 01ould arife amongf.l them, they vfedGods owne hand,as it were, in giuing eue· ry tribe his inheritance. So that, in fuch matters ofweight :.tnd moment, thefe lots mufl bee vfed as a good feruice of God for thofe ends. · . ' And fince thefe thing~ are AriCtly commanded, as the former forbidden, this condemnes the corruptions and loofendfeofour times. Many thinke, that if they bee freed from idolatric and fuperflition, then they haue kept this commandemeut :as though it did onely forbid euill, and did not ~ommaund the contrarie good. This is not fo: but otic may forbeare the forenamed finnes, ~md yet be,a dam.. nable breaker oft his commandement: for God comma rids not onely to turne from dumbe Idols, but alfo that wee ~ould fer~e the true and liuing God, 1.Theff.t.9. or dfe there is no found conuerfion. M·any can fay, they pra'y not fupertlitioufly : but doe they euer pray rdigioufly? They fpend no time invaine repetitions: but cdoethey fpend any· time in faithfull petitions, and praying in theholyGhoO? They readenopopHhbookes: but do they reade the hooke ofGod?They come not at Maffe: but doe they reuerently ·receiue the Lords Supper? Theyhaue left off popilh falls: . like enough, for we are fallen from poperie to plaine·impie– tie: but doe they fall a Chrillian fall? As theydid it before ftJperHi.tiou-!ly, doe.they doe it now confcionably? in ea– fling downe ~hemfelues,and celebrating it as aSabbathvn~ t(\,tGod; to confdle -their finnes; and craue pardon for t~.e fame. But fur want of thefe duties, many want. the bldii:og· ofGod, which they 'might haue, and are breakers of this Eomtnandement, becaufe they beenot as dilige,nt in vfing "hegoodmeanesof~heir. faluation., as theywere forward ·int the ill meanciof their ·defiru6lion., and:are•11ot as carefult ; •!f; . to
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=