(yourpreparationbeforewe heare the wordofGod. 375 dued,to theend wee maybring our fumes to bee flaughte- redand mortified with the fword ofGods fpirit;being other- wife unabletoouercome themour felues ; and thatwee may alto thereby fo firongly arme al parts,bothofour bodies and, . foules,fo as they (hallnot in time to come, bring vs againe vnder their dominion. Andas citizens beingbefiegedwith their enemies doelearnebytheiraffaultingwhich part ofthe citie is mofi v 'eake, and fowithmore care and labour fortifie it, withmen andmunition,trenches and bulwarkes; fo when we who arecontinually befieged byour fpirituall enemies, do learneby their affaultingofvs wherewe are weakeft, and the enemiemoll like to enter, then we mu$goe into Gods armorie and prouide fuflîcient weapons and munition, wherbywe maybe enabled to hold out and make refiflance. So alto wee are to confider ofourwants and imperfe6lions, that lo we may be 'ftirredvp with an earneft defire, tohaue them fupplied,andherebymaybemoued with morecare to apply vnto ourfelues fuch food as (hall be moltfit to fupplie thefe our wants, andamend our irnperfe6lions; for as men who hunger earneflly delire tobeefatisfied with wholefome food,neitherwill theywillinglywithout any differenceeste ofall meates, efpecially iftheyhaue weake flomackes, but ofthat which is mollfit andbefiagreeth with them; fo thofe whofinde their fpirituall wants earneflly delire to bee fa- tisfied, and to haue their defedls fupplied; and for as much as all foode .contained inGods word,is not fitfor this pur- pole,, nor agreeableto their ilomackes, to the end that Gods graces may be nourifhed in .them,therefore theywill wifely choice of that which bell agreeth to their prefent flate,andapply it vnto themfeluesaccordingly.Forexample, hewho findeth'his heart hardand fecure, muff feedupon the threatnings ofthe law,to theend heemaybehumbled, and his heart .mollified,and refolued into teares ofvnfained re-. pentance; bee that is of a brokenheart and contrite fpirit, mull feede vpon the fweete and gratious promifes of the Gofpell;he that is ignorant, mull.hungerafter milke,and de- fire tube inflru ted in thc.principlesofreligion; he that bath, agood rneafure ofknowledge, may delire ilrongerineate, B b .g. that
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