Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

That the world is a molldangerous enemie. 17 crifice oftheir lips, and take vpon them the vizard ofreli- gion,thattheir Phew ofgodiineffe may increafe their gaine, and let forward their worldly ends; but when God and the world,religion and their pleafure,proficand preferment, are fo diuided,that they cannot togetherbeimbraced,then they vnmask thcmlelues,cafl afide the Lords liuerie ; and openly profeffe that ifthey mull haue but one,then the world alone (hall be their Lord and matter. And all there proclaime the worlds force and power by 4,ge .lo. their vtter ouerthrow and bafe flauerie. But how many are 7 hat tbemorid there betides who in the finceritie of their hearts ferne the often preuaiiras Lord,and fight veder his flanderd,who feele often the force with Gods fer. of the worlds blowes, and recciue deepe and grifly, though uauts not mortal! wounds, in this confliól? How many are there who having efcaped out of the diuels flauerie, andhad the vpper hand in many combatsoftentation, after they haue put him to flight,and obtained a glorious viólorie, are pur- fued and ouertaken by the world, which encountring and clofing fall with them, either calleth them downe, or grie- uoufly foileth them, by wounding their confciences with fome knowne finne,or maketh them to (land Hill, or at!call exceedingly hindreth their race in the courle of Chrilliani.. tie? How many are there who haue loft their firf loue, and Are much abated in their zeale,becomming cold and neg- ligent in the duties ofGods feruice, and in the workes of mercie and charitie towards their brethren, after that the world hath combated with them? And yet alas fo fecure we are,that though this enemie be much more dangerous and pernicious,. then Satan h imfelf,ouercomming more through his treacherous flatteries,then his grand captaine by his o- penviolence,yet the moll thinke not ofit,as of a mortal foe, but as though it were a kinde friend, they impart vnto it a great (hare in their loue and affe &ion, efleeming it about Gods fpirituall graces whilefl they haue it, and mourning with forrow and bitter griefe when they are forced to part from it. And howfoeuer they profeffe emnitie againfl the world, as being commonly reckoned forone ofthe enemies of our faluation, yet !their quarrel! is but againfl an idle C name.: