ATreatife of the Afeltions. 1- ns faith, to be hated of all men, to goe through trib l their Iand perfecutions for the Gofpels fake, to part w cuftomes, and their own natural inclinations and their lusts,. their affections are againft thefe conditions. O it's won - drous hard to wooe the affehlions of the heart unto Chrift. And loft thou think that Chrift will marry thee till thine affeélions come down to his conditions ? will a man marry a woman whom he fees is contrary- hearted unto him ? Mauler inquieta tempeftia in dómo, .A crof e Wife is a tempeft and a f1orm in a houfè. Come then continual to the preach- ing of the word, if ever thou defire to have thine affedi- ons wrought on. Gods Minifters are Chrifts paranymphs, they preach for this purpofe to wooe thine affections to Chrift. If there be any one Sermon that thou refufeft to be at when thou mayft, thy confcience tels thee thou mayft be at it, and wilt not, if there be any one Sermon, I fay, that thou wilt not be at,thou rejedeft Chrifts paranymphs. Like a croffe mayd, that when her fluter cornes to her, he (hall have no fpeech with her, She will not befpóken with.. O what a provoking is this unto Chrift ? if thou wilt not be fpoken with, take heed leafl the Lord jefus abhorre -for to own thee. Nay, if the be fo ftrange forfooth, let her keep her affeftions for who's will, I fcorn to wove her any more. How long hath Ch rift wooed your affecîions I belo- ved, and yet he's pleafed to wooe you. Bring hither your affeftions, that bere they may be wrought. Frequent the Lords houle, tor here be Chrifts paranymphs . if ever your affefhons can be gotten, here they may be won fome time or other. Many other means may be ufed to help you in this task, namely, to fetyour affect ions on God. But thefe may fuifice for the prefent. Set your affeltion$ on things that are above, and not on things that are on the earth. L 3 The 77
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