Folly of retaining fin. Sai CBAP. V. opening the filly of man in retaining bis finne and contenting birnfelje without Christ. 4. PrHe meditation of manseflrangement from Chrift in J his naturali andcorrupt elate, opens the exceeding greatfolly ofman in being loath to change his corrupt eftate, to put of the OMman, as unwilling to forfake his carnali con- dition, as cAricak his I doll, though this feparate and keepe him from Chrift, make him uncapable of Chrift, exclude him fromall claimeand title toChrift ; and this is the folly ofall follies-4o retains any thing which may exclude man from Chris, cr hinder mans fruition and enjoyment of Chrift ; he that by retaining his fin keeps himfelf from 'Ora, abides in darknes and choofeth darknes rather then light, fickneffe rather then health, bondage rather then li- berty, -famin rather than fumes, woes and miferies rather than ;oyes and comforts, curfes rather than blessings, bafe- nesrather than honour, the leprofie rather then beauty, what fhall I fay death rather than life, hell rather than heaven, and evelafting'confortfhip with the Divell inendicífebur- nings, rather than communion with God and Chrift in everlafling rej,)}cings. Men are eally pet fwaded to leave ficknes for health, darknes for light, firaw for pearls, thral- dome for liberty, the tempeft for a calme, e-c. But men are uncafily perEvaded to leave their fin for Chrift, to deny themfelves, and forfake the world for Chrift, as E'lilha left Es friends and his yoakes of Oxen to follow .E70/1. This is a perfwanon beyond the Rhetorick, Art and Eloquence of man and Angell, yea of Chrift himfelfe, as he was man anda Minifter of the Gofpell : for thus may you herehim in the dayes of his fiefh expoftulating and` pleading with, reproving and upbraiding the men of 7erufalem, O J eru- 1 `B b 3 fa-
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