ATreatifeof tbe'AffeEtion.r, Sampfon fo fart bound with Delileihs withs, as he was with his affe hoes to Delilah, (ayes Gregory. Ah poor flavith foul, thon art in the Devils flocks : as long as thine affe li- ons are not fattened aright,thou art heart- bound, and foul - bound, and confcience - bound, thou art fait bound in his cage. How needy then concerneth it you all, to get your affe:ìions to be fet upon? Ye are even the (laves and bond - flaves of hell : and therefore as ever ye delire to flie from the vengeance to come, ufe all thefe means with all confci- ence, that ye may fet your affections on God. Secondly, Earthly affeEiions are the fore fi=alltngs of the heart, the heart is prepoffeft already with the things of this life, and is prejudicate againfl the things that are above, and therefore there is no hope to perfwade you, as long as your affeélions are fet upon the things of this life. When our Saviour °Chi-lit perceived how the Pharifees affe lions hawkt after credit and honour from men, being prepoffeft with delire of humane applaufe, he tels them plainly they could never beleeve, nor Peek the honour of God. Ye can- not beleeve, (ayes he : how can ye beleeve which receive honour one of another, and Peek not the honour that co- meth from God only ? loh.5.44. It is a grievous thing to be prejudicate and prepoff'efl with another good betide God. It is a miferable task to be to reafon with a prejudicate man, he will not yield, no, by no means will he yield, when once he is prejudicate. As long as our affe&ions are fet on the world, our hearts are prejudicate : and therefore go we about the means prefcribed, whereby our affè lions may be fet at rights; never till then can we hope to con- vert you, or to work any good on your fouls, N The 1. Because etrchly aff:tiiens ate the fore -flat lern of the aears.
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