No fairer Temple forGod, than the heart of Man PaffionSunday. Ser.: whichGod effeEteth inour foules , is in Babtifme : This is the foundation of our Chriftian building,fo faiththeglorious Apoftle SaintPain Afterwards the eyesof our Reafonbeing cleered, one layeth his foundation onGold, another on Siluer, athird onpretious Stones, a fourth on Wood, a fifeon Hay, a fixt on Straw : and thoughHay and Straw be fometimes taken for Gold , the firewill trie the fineneffeof ir, and purifieall. The fecond renouation is by Repentance : When thou haft an old beaftly tatterdgarment, thoumakefttheea new one ; thy foule isall tobe tent& torn, exceeding fouleand filthie, cloath it anew. The firlf regale or kindneffe which the father !hewedto the prodigall child, was, his newapparelliug of him , Ar ferieflolamprimara. This is the greateft kindneffe thou cant} doe to thy foule ; and that thou maiftnot doeas little childrenvfeto doe , which arewell clad to day, and a few dayes after arenothing butragges andtotters ; doe not yeemake your garments of paper, which theleaftblaff of aire rentsafunder, but put on Iefifs Chrift our Sauiour and Redeemer , which is a Rayment that will Taft for euer. dndit,vuWinter . Saint Gregorie faith, That the Scripture fometimes fet- teth downe the circumftancesof time and place, to fignifieby them,thatwhich is not expreffedby word of mouth. And that this circumftance of Hyems eras, It MOWinter, though it may be referred to our Sauiour Chrifts walking from place to place, yet doth itdeclare the froftinefl`eand yciecoldneffeof the Iews hearts. By coldneffe, the Scripture vnderftandeth themalice of finne; whence it is to bee noted That the Hiftorie ofthe c.achabees calleth this Solemnitie, TheFeaft of Fire ; Whereaswe are nowpurpofedrokeepe the Purificationof the Templevpon the twentie fifthdayof themonethChafleu, wee thought it neceflarie tocertifie you thereof, that yee altomight keepe the Feaft of the Ta- bernaclesand of the Fire,whichwas giuen vs whenNehemiasoffered Sacrifice, after thathe had built the Templeand theAltar, &c. It appeareth by the fixth Chapterof Leuiticxs, That God did conferuea perpetuall fire inhis prefence, TheFire!itch euermoreburnevpon the vtltar,andneuergot out. At their departure into Babylon, theyhid their fire in adeepe pit, and at their returnethey found it turnedinto a thick waterlike agellie ; Nehemiaa he takes it forth andCaret it in the Sunne,andprefently it becamefire: the dropsthat remained,they did fprinc- kleor bedew theAltar therewith, and they forthwith tooke fire ;fo that it was fitly called the FeaftofFire. But that they whofolemnife thisFeaft fhould bee all Fro ft and Ice, is a thingvenieworthie ourconfederation. This is our ruine andperdition, That the vrie fame daythat wee treatof re- newing our foules,whichis thefcaft ofthe Fire of our Spirit, there fhould bee filcha great coldneffein vs, &c. Take heedyourflight benot in the Winter, nor vpon the Sabboth : Our Sauior hauing reuealed vnto hisDifciples;whether it werethe euils that fhould befall Ieruftlem, or the infuing miferies ofthis world,orthofe that fhould threaten the Soule at each particular mans death,orall ofthem joint- lytogether ; and fuppofingthat nonewouldbeable to abide them,but thatthey would be forcedtoflie from the euillto come ;heegiues them thisauifo,Take heedyourflight,&c. Our Saviour would not haue them to betake themfelues to flight, neither on the Sabboth day, nor in theWinter. Noton the Sabbath day,becaufe.theirLaw did notgiue then leaue to goany more thana thoufand paces, a matterofamile. But fay force one fhould haue ventured tobreake this Law, and to haue gone further, he could not haue ligh- tedon-an Inne-keepstobid-him welcome, gat no meat, no fireto dreffe it, nor haue 559 Circumfian- cesof Time andPlace in Holy Writ,of great fignifi- rancie. lerem.6. a.ylct.1.18. The fcafk of Fire. Leuit.6.7;.
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