Downame - Houston-Packer Collection BX5133.D76 C552 1611 v.2

That worldly things withdrawmen from Gatlin-nice. 695 medand excetliudyloued, doemake vs flacke and flothfull in thingsimmede- 1gß the duties ofGodsferuice, and, in vfing the meanes which hoe rattly lolled bath ordained to attaine vnto the prefent poffeffion of his make uinthe fpirïtuall graces, and the affuranceof his heauenlly ioyes.And duties niGeds this finne isanecef arie fruit and effe&ofthe former; forwhen feruice. we neglect theLord,and contemnehisfpirituall and heauenlÿ benefits, thenare wee alto careleffe andnegligent in vfing the meanes whereby we mayobtainc thofethings whichwe fo lit- tleef cemeanddefire.And as tholewho haue drunkepoyfons doeprefently wax fi:iffe and bcnummed, and footle alterare feazed vpon bydeath, whereby theyare made impotent and vtterlyvnable to performe any humane action : fo they who hauedrunke ofthat benumming poyfonofcold contempt,,def- piling God and his rich graces,fpirituall,and eteruall,are'made ftrfi fluggifh, andToone after impotent, and dead COall good duties. Neither isthis rareand vnufual to fee thofe vpon whom the world fawneth,and who aboundwith earthly profperity,to be thus flacke andnegligent in the feruiceofGod, andin vfing themeans oftheir ovine faluation ; butfocommonandalmof+ vnitrerfall, thatfeldomefhail one find a manin great profperi- ty,who alfo is indued with great piety ; feldome flail one fee any burning in zeale, and deuout and earnefi in religious du- Er rarafumasl' ties, who hash the world at will, and bath plentieand abun- fxialburara. dance ofall earthly biefíings. It is true indeed, thatinreafon thefctemporarie benefits, fhould as the Lords wages, incou- ragevs to doe hisworke, and hauing a tall of his bountie, of' which wee (hall drinke our fill in the life to come, wee fhould with more alacritie and cheerefulnefhe performediligentfer- wice to foliberal' a mafler : But contrariwife through our cor- ruption and vnthankfulnefl'eitcommeth to page, that wee are rather hindered then furthered in all goodduties byworldly abundance ; and like gluttons and drunkards hauing floreand plentieof thefe good blef ings, wee feeding on themwitha greedieappetitedo furfet,and drinkingofthefe full cups with vnfatiable thirfi, wee are madedrunken with exceffe ; and fo therebyour headsare intoxicated, our mindsbefotted,and our bodies enfeebled and difabled,fo as wee become,flothful and impotentto.performe any 'good dude of the feruice ofGod ; whereasloy theirmodcrate vfe,wemight hauebeenmade more Y y 4 firong

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