ThatSatan temptéthof tonegligence inhearing theverd. 373 thing requireth at our hands to bee performed before our ourMites be- tomtningtoGodsaffemblies, and fomthing afterwards. Be- fire we heave. forewe come tothe hearingof the word, there is required 'duepreparation,whcreby our minds are made fitveffels to receiue the fpirituall treafure and. food ofour foules. For if wecome into the congregation ofthefaithfull,without any premeditation,reuerence,or regard'ofthe ac}ion which wee are to take inhand ; ifwe prefent our felues ràfhly and vn_ aduifedly, as ifwewent to aplay, or to difpatch fome world_ 1y bufineffe;we (hall hardlykeepe our minds fromnegligent wandring and worldly dif}ra&ions, which will make the word ofGod fruitleffe andvnprofitable. Now this preparation doth principally confil}, firfl in the §,Sea,_Z, purgingof our corrupt affeaions, to which dutie the wifeWherein thin man exhorteth vs ; Ecclef.4.17. Take! heed to thy feete when Preparation thou entreFFinto thehoofe ofGod, that is, bescarefull to purge 1C.4., thine affe6lions which are the feete of thy foule. And this Was typically fgnifiedby theoutward wafhingof the Ifrae- lites before the promulgationofthe law, Exod.i9.1o.where Exod.19.1o. by the wafhing oftheir clothes and bodies, thepurgingof the fecret corruptions ofthe heart was fgnified and repre- fented. Which dutie is neceffarily tobe performed, ofall thofe'whowill hcare the word with profit for as the mof} pure liquor is defiled andmade vnprofitable forvfe,if it bee put into apollutedand flunking veffcll ; fo the pure liquorof Godsword is defiled and made fruitleffe, vntoall thofe who receiue it into a heart polluted withvncleane affeaions : As therefore (.2iofs was enioyned byGod to put offhis fhooes fromhis feete, beforehe might tread on that ground made holy by Gods prefence,or receiue the Lords ambaffage tohis people ; fohe requireth ofvs thatweput off the fhooes,that is,the corruption ofour affe&ions, before we tread vpon the hoheground ofhis Church, there to beare theglad tidings of the Gofpell,concerning our euerlafiing deliuerie out of the bondage ofour fpirituall enemies. What thefe affe&i- ons are theApofile Limes partlie fheweth, Iam.i.i9;name- IamesLlg. lie wrath, filrhineffe, malitioufneffe, to which Peter ad_ r.Pet._z.ß,. dethdiffmulation and hypocrifie, enuie and euillfpeaking., -Bb 3
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