6. To clip the wans of our if- fe &fors, by áb, flainino from much of our law fullibetty Viá 'aisc regulara a- pudGreg t.5. moral. 61' bum. 3 <. (upar Evang. ATt'eatife oftbe Affeaions. in tilde things, left fuperfluity of affeetions ftep in in a mo- ment: the devil is alwaies a catching for his opportuni. ties to deceive you ; he is ever as a roaring Lion feeking by all means to devour you, Be fober the and vigilant, for your adverfary the devil walketh about feeking Whom he may devour, i Pet.5.8. When a man is to fight with a flout e- nemy, will he go and make himfelf drunk, that his enemy may fet upon him drunk? Ye had need to be fober, if it be to fight with the devil ; if ever ye be never fo little o. vertaken, never fo little giddy, then is the devil moftbufie. Temperance and fobriety hath a very good name in the. Greek tongue, the Spirit of God cals it or4e9auvo, that is, the keeper of the minde fafe, or the keeper of a man in his wits. Do fo, otherwife thou fhalt never be able to fetthine affeétions on God. This is an admirable means to keep our affections in tune, to be fober in all things : to be fo- ber- thoughted, and fober-hearted, and fober - minded, and fober - mouthed, and fober - meated, and fober - clothed,and fober - employed. This is the fifth means to fet our affefti- ons on God, To be fober in all things. The fixth is this, when we fee how apt our affe5lions are to fly out upon vanity, to clip their Wings of much of their lawful liberty ; not only to abftain from things that are evil and unlawful, but alto to abilain from many things that are lawful. There be a thoufand lawfuls that thy heart does affe.?1, which if thou do not abridge thy felf of, thou (halt never be able to fet thine affe lions upon God. This. rule Socrates the very Heathen obferved ; no man can be fafe from falling into'unlawfuls, but only this man, faies he; that abftains from many things that are lawful. It's lawful to drink strong drink, but for thee that art apt to over -defire it, it is dangerous. It's lawful to go finely; but for thee that art apt to be proud of it, It is not fafe to goe to the utmoft of What is lawful. If thou ufelt the utmoft of a thing that is lawful,- one ftep further is unlawful,. It is not wifedom to go to the utmoft ridges of a rock, juif at the brow
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