96 Full offin, empty of Chrift. Match .z 2.44, 45. Ier.4.3. Gen.u. Pfal. 10747. ;?. slkt vhibus adde, aut ani- mis aaitne: Match. z 1.19 . lehn 15'. Prov.24. 31. an empty hand to the withftanding of the enemy in the bat- tle. The unclean Spirit finding the houfe empty, entred in with jeven others worje then himjelfe: Such are unprofitable to others in their fpirituall diftreffes, like the pits which were empty when the children of theNobles came unto them in their thirft as an empty lanthorne that gives no light to him that tra- vels in the darke; like the fig -tree which bare no fruit when Chrift came to it in his-hunger : Such men know not how to comfort themfelves, how to fuftaine and flay themfelves in their owne diftreffe ; they have nothing of God and Chrift at home within themfelves,in their owne hearts : but as Hagars bottle was empty, had no water in it, neither knew the which way to looke for water to refefh her, but fate downe and wept ; fo are their foules empty,and when trou- ble comes upon them, they know not which way to looke for comfort ; they have no anker to Day them in the forme, but are (as the Pfalmiít faith of the Mariners in the tempeft) even at their wits end : Such men are a difhonour to the Gof- pell, a fhame to the Chriftian profeffion ; as ari empty Sho- lar that hash no learning in him,is a difgrace to the School, or a barren Tree a difcredit to, the Orchard : To fuch men it may be fpoken, as once Archidamus fpake unto his Sonne, rafhly conflieting with the Athenians, wanting ftrength to make his .part good again('them,Either add to thy ftrength, or take from thy boldneffe : fo mutt thefe men, either adde to their Phew more power of godlineffe in their converfati- on, or ceafe from their profef iou.. For as in warre audaci- oufneffe without ftrength is dangerous ; fo in- religion, pro- feffion without:praElice is fcandalous : and what is the end of fuch empty and barren Chrif'ians,but as the tree that had leays without fruit was curled, and the withered branches calf into the fire and burned : fo the curie and everlasting burning will be thefe mens laft portion. 2 This likewiCe fhewes how farre they are from Chrifi, who in Read offpirituall and heavenly fdneffe, have a ful- uefl'e of finne and uncleanneffe within them ; fome being full of worldly- mindednefi'e, of diftraaing cares and -cogi- tations ; as the fluggards field was full of thornes and bryars ; fam e
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