Fenner - Houston-Packer Collection BX5037 .F46 1651

94 Men are very dull in affe @i, ons co etn. brace the Werd. A.TYeatife of the Affiftions, There be two things in every Commandment of God. ,Firft, The duty commanded to be done, Fear God and keep his Commandments. This is the whole duty, Ecclef, 12.14 . That is, there is never a duty that a man bath corn- manded him, but it is within the compafs of the Command- ments of God, So that in every Commandment there is a duty. Secondly, The ftrength of affe&ion wherein the Com- mander commands it, and therefore the Commander corn - mands it, and therefore the Commandment is called Gods will. Teach me to do thy will,O God, Pfa. í43.1o. It is called Godspleafeore, Bleffe the Lordye Minifers of his that do his pleàfute, Pfa.Io ;. »t. It is called Gods defire, Thars de -. frredfl truth in theinward, parts, Pl. 1.6. Becaufe the ftrength of Gods will and defire, and pleafure, and affeftion lies in it. Thefe two-things being in every Commandment of God, it follows of necellîty, that a man muff have his aftè&ions in obedience, otherwife he is not obedient. As God doth not only command me, but alto with affe &ion he com- mands me : fo Imuft not only do the thing he commands, but with all affec`ion Í muff do it, or elfe I never obey him, Virtuti immitte furorem, (ayes Homer, Adde afc&tions to thy vertue, Vertue is no vertue without the affec lions, - prayer is no prayer without thine affe &ions be in it, repentance is no repentance without thine atfeihons be in it. Whatfoever duty thou (loft, if thou doff it not with all thine aged-ions, it is abomination to God : and therefore the ivlinifter that preaches mull ftir up affe&ions : if he do not Ihr up age- &ions, thereligion he begets in the hearts of his hearers, is likely to be little better then wretched formality. Thirdly, As the Word is full of affe &ion it felf, and re- quires affe &ion in them that obey it, TOomen are very dull in, affettion to embrace it; they are dull ofhearinr Heb.S.ii. They have dull ears, and dull hearts, and dull affeLtioüs tell them they (hall périfh becaufe they doe not repent; they will be damned becaufe they will not obey : they fhall be

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