againfi the wilesof the devil. 119: howhe may commence a fuic againfi thee from thy duty ; like thole that come to Sermons to carp and catch at what the Preacher faith, that they may make him an offender for fame word or other mif-placed ; or like a cunning Opponent in the Schooles, while his adverfary is bulk in reading his poficion, he is ftudying to confute it ; and truly Satan bath fuch an Art at this, that he is able to take our duties in pieces, and fo dif- figure them that they (hall appear formal, though never fo zea- lous,hypocritical,though enricht with much fincerityWhen thou haft done thy duty ,Chriftian,then flands up thisSophilter to rave!. out thy work,there(will he fay)hou playeda the hypocrite, zea- lous, but (crying thy felf, here wandring, there nodding ; a little further putt up with pride, and what wages calla thou hope for at Gods hands, now thou haft fpoil'd his work, and cut it all our into chips ? Thus he makes many poor follies lead a-weary life, nothing they do but he bath a fling at, that they know not whe- ther bell pray or not, heare or not ; and when they have prayed and heard, whether it be to any purpofe or not : Thus their fouls hang in doubt, and their dayes paffe in forrow, while their ene- my ftands in a corner, and laughs at the cheat he hat h put upon them ; as one, who by putting a counterfeit fpider into the difb, makes thole that fit at table either out of conceit with the meat, that they dare not eat, or afraid of therrifelves ifthey have eaten, left they fbould be poifoned with their meat. - But you will fay, what *ill yoo haw, us do a>i t his Cafe tOltithi7aXd Q14' the cavil.; of Satan, in reference to our dhtiet? Firft, let this make thee more accurate in all thou doeft aiafte.L the very end God aimes at in fuffering Satan thus to watch you, that you his children might be the more circurrirpeft, be- caufe you have one over-looks you, that will be lure to tell tales, ofyou to God, and accule thee to thy own fef. Doth it not behove thee to write thy Copy faire, when fuch a Critick reades and fcans it over ? Doth it not concern thee to know thy heart well, to turn over the Scriptures diligently, that thou tria; eft know the flare of thy foulecontroverfie in all the cafes of con- fcience thereof, when thou haft such a fubtile Opponent to re- ply upon thee ? Secondly, let it make thee more humble. If Satan can charge thee with fo much in thy bell duties, 0what then can thy God do ?,
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