2,98 Note. Examination. Exercíferofreligiorza. der the vaileofthings lawfull,whichnoman can denie, vntillliauing by little and little corrupted vs,fhcdoe boldly vncouer herfelfe in things vnlawfull-vntovs. And that fho might finde the more curteous intertainment at our hard,fhe commeth.notalone,but ei- ther fluegettethinto the companieof nature, or fhe creepeth into familiaritiewith grace: that being with thefe, for hercompanions fake at theleal, fhe:naynot hauerepulfe. M. Achatlaid,fo faithfhe,I wouldnot haue comehither,but for lehofaphat. For weeknow it often comes to pafie,thát wee are content to admitandreceiue fotnefortheir companions fake,who if they carnealone fhould fcarfely bewelcome at our hands. This, fumeknow- eth well,and therefore fometimes fhecomes hand inhand withnature,that is,in facia be, hauiour asnaturallywe Likeand are affebied with ; asfometime in ioyes,ifwebe ofa ligh- ter mould ; fometime in grtefe,ifwe beofa Ladder fod : fometime The commeth cheekeby cheeke withgrace,as our Saviour Chnftfhetveth vs,hypocrifie,to come inprayer,fatting, and ltnefgiuing, &c. It is not likethat Salomonatthe firft lept into idolatrie, nay by de- grees hisheart was (tollen away with the immoderate and exceffrue vfeofthings, in their ownevfeand naturelawfull. And therefore the Saints ofGod haue racier chofcn to fita little on this fide ofthem,thanto iumpe and iuftle bard by them ; as we may fee inTimo- thieand inElias, t .King. i9.who wasfaint twice tobe called upon by theAngell to rifevp and eate.Salamondid begin tobuild,yeahebegan tobuild the Lords honk, 2.King.6.&7. &c.and yet(as all good writers agree) exceffiue buildingwas the beginningof hisfalling away. He was buildingthe Lords houfe feuen yeeres, but in buildinghis owne houfehe was thirteene yeeres.Thisgrowing in proportion,when lie wouldexceed the Lords work, this drawing out ofhisbuildingwas the onelything thattheScriptures haue left vetovs, as anoteofhis fallingaway,to teachvs that by thevfeeven of lawfull things ourhearts be feduced,andby degrees hardened tofall away from the liningGod. For ewe louea cluing excelhiuely,our louegroweth tcslnit, and ourlull drawes ontothe often vfe, and brings on cuftome,cuftome at thelength bringsneceffilie. Thus whenwefndecoo much reliefe ìrüa intl:ings,wefall infuchalouewith£gyps,andinfuchadillikingofCanaan ,thatwewit neuer depart,butwe will (till dwellby our fielh-pots. Wellthen wee fay thus,the Panne is nofinne : but when the farme holdeth vs backefrom grace, and the tneanesofgrace, then is itfnne vnto vs. Cu a P. 25. Of theexercifes ofrelt ion,fafling,&c.sind of the careful(vfe ofthewanes at all rimes. tlemeanesfr .Emul not tarieto falb .yntill the trumpet beblowne, and the bell be rung: religion Nis but wemull fall dowr.e at the trumpet of Godsword, andat the bellofour andnatgabs- rt guiltie confcience: forwithout this privateexercife wearebut hypocrites in faytngany publikc faits. fees common- ehmgthe a Our holyd conuenient may be the and molt - eenetimes for fa-- dedby taw for ling dales : becaufe we may then beltredeeme the time in refting frontourcalling. oaauigatmn 3 All ourexercifesingodlinellemuftprincipal lyrefpeettwothings :firft,Godsglorie: lake. fecondly, our edification and increafe offaith and repentance: otherwife to our feints they are vaineand fruitleffe. 4 Albeit theLord hath appoynted ordinarie caufes, yet he bath termed in his owne foueraigntie andiurifdiétion,theftaffe ofthem,the vertue,infufion,andworking ofthem. For as the Phifitionprefcnbingamedicine made with wine,it is not the barewine which nourifheth,thoughit be the initrumentto conuey themore principal' thing vntovs ; but it is thething fteepedin thewine that worketh : fo althoughwe haue things miniftred vu- Simile. tovs by thebellsneanes,vnleffe the Lordput in lus lbafFe,all is usvaine. Foraswe may fee aaleaaes. force fedwith cordial! andnutritiuemeates, notwichftanding labour ofa confumption:lo wee (hall fee others fed with water.grewell,, and yet to be very well nourifhed. On this manner God worketh with the moues, and thus het can worke without the ba aufe
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