Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

260 i heAtter of the loge of the world. matters as concerne the fining knowledge ofGód, then do heauenly difcourfes repleniflh our heart with delight and then is it our chiefe comfort and contentment, to fpeake of Semi) tit imago the excellencie and riches of our blefl'ed patrimonie refer - animi; quails eft ued for vs,or of the mean es how wee may further be affured vit, tatisoratio, that we fluff inherit and enioy it. Let therefore our tongues be the touchllone of our hearts, whereby wee mayeafily di- fcerne whether they be of heauenly mettall or of earthly droffe. And let vs examine our owne confciences, whether we take our chiefe delight and comfort in fpeaking of thefe heauenly things,and delire to frequent their company moll, who vfually interrainevs with fuch diuine difcourfes; and whether in hearing and talking ofthem, wee be not glutted with fatietie,but rather affeted with cheereful alacritie,and tickled with inward ioy. And if we finde that wee can abide this triall, wee maybe affured..to ourcómfort,that the:Lord is our chiefe loue and delight,andthat our treafures are not on earth, but in our heauenly countrie the kingdome of Cod. But if wee find our felues.vnacquainted with this lan- guage of Canaan,and take no more delight to heare it then come vnknowne fpeech If after a word or two fpoken of thefe fpirituall and heauenly excellencies, wee are llraight glutted with loathing fatietie, and offer occafion offome other talke;it plainly difcouereth our inward corruption, and euidently fheweth, that our hearts and affecRions are not ft vpon. God, and the riches of his kingdome,but doe chieflyefleerne,and : moll feruently loue, the things of this life,theworld,and worldly vanities. 4.Seci.3. But heere force may obial, that if much thinking and rnwhar/en ¡e (peaking of the things ofthisworld ,be;infallible fig nes,that gmh think- wee loue :them more then God, and the ioyes of bis king- of vvertdlie dome,thenwho can be acquitted of this corruption, feeing thivgs are Agnes the vfuall matter-of meditation, and the mofl ordinarie oftbeloae oflhe theame whereon all men difcourfe, are their earthly affaires, world. , and the things of this life. To which I anfwere, that whilefl we remaine here,weare more flefh then fpirir; and therefore it is no maruell ifour difcourfes be for the moll part world- ly and carnall : but yet wee mull take heed that wce doe not pleafe