Grosse - Houston-Packer Collection BT268 .G91 1632

Applaufe-huntersfirangers to (krill. to ordinances ter the commandements and Dorrines ofmen: mens inthr-alrnent of themfelves to mens lulls and inventi- ons, utterly excludes them from Chrift Jefus, IfI yet plea- fed men (faith St: `Paul) I Jhould not 6e the q fervant of Chrift. IfI ftudied and obferved men, made my f lfe ob- fequious to the lulls of men, did haunt after the favour of men, or did make the wifdome and invention of men my° guide in things fpirituaIl, I fhould not be the fervant of Chrift.Chrift bath no gracious Lordlhip and dominion in the fouls offuchperfons, as are fuperftitioufly devoted to mense inventions. Some againe are extraordinarily delighted in and take/8 up With the applaufe ofmen : All their workes of charity and piety are levelled to this marke, they doe all to be feen of men, to be praifed of men, their r Aimes, Prayers, Fa- flings are as loft, labours, ifmen doe not obferve them, if they gaine not the applaufe of men by them mens prai- fes are the firft mover in all their fervtces, They love the f praife of men more then the praife of {Cod, and when man is thus full, thus fwolne and puffed up with the applaufe of man, thus ambitious of the praife of man; there is no- thing ofChrift in man, Hoye t can you beleeve, faith Chrilt, how can yee imbrace me, partake of me, fubjeft your felves to me and quiet and content your felves with me, fatiate and delight your felves in me, which receive honour one ofanother and feeke not the honour that cometh from God only. Hee that is ambitious of the applaufe of man is uncapable of Chrift ; the man that is vaine-glorious is farce from all fwcet and comfortable communion with Chrif. Some likewife ufavour-only the things of men, and not the things, of God, the Word and Ordinances ofGod, the wayes and workes of God, the gifts and .communicati- ons of God to the Joules ofmen, have no favour with them: Thefe things arc to them as the words of Eliphaz unto ?oh, w Vnfavoury things,having no more tafle then the white of an Egg ; f rrowfull meat which their foulererfeth to touch, they tale no fweetneff, they find no pleafure in these things, 29 q G1Lr,ro. i rMat,6.=. u Mat,t6.z;> wIob 6,6,7,

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