cl,srAgeffe, of 11)14 World. 215 till a convenient feafon, but he never could finde one. The Sun is not more troublefome in hot Councreys, then truth is to thofe who fit under the powerful preaching of it ; and therefore as thofe feldorne come abroad in the heat of the day,and when they muff, have their-devices over their heads to skreene them from the Sun ; fo finners shun as much as may be the preachingof the Word; but if they mull go to keep in with their relations, or for other carnal advantages, they, if poffible, will keep off the pow- er of truth, either by flaping the Sermon away, or prating it a- way with any foolifh imagination which Satan fends to beare them company and chat with them at fuch a time : or by choofin g fuch a coole Preacher to fit under, whole toothltfie di icourie Ball rather flatter then trouble,rather tickle their fancy then prick their confciences ; and then their fore eyes can look upon the, light. Froreccentem armint Veritatem pi non redargventeno: they dare handle and lookon the fword with delight when in a rich fcabbard, who would run away to fee it drawn. Fourthly, Sinne is darkneffe for its uncomfortableneffe and 4. that in a threefold refpe6t. Firft, Darkneffe is uncomfortable, as it flints out of all im- ployment. What could the Egyptians do under the plague of darkneffe but fit ffiil ? and this to an active fpirit is trouble e- nough. °Thus in a fate of finne man is an unferviceable creature, he cando his God no fervice acceptably, fpoiles every thing he takes in hand ,like one running up and down in a fhopwhen win- dow*s7gut, doth nothing right. It may be writ on the grave of everylinner, who lives and dies in that Elate, Here lies the man, that never did God anhours work in all his life. Secondly, Darkneffe is uncomfortable in point of enjoyment; be there never fuch rare pi&ures in the roome, if dark who the better ? A foul in a (fate offinne may poffeffe much, but enjoyes nothing : this is a fore evil, and little thought of One thought ofits Efate ofenmity to God, would drop bittemeffe into every cup; all he bath fmells ofhell- fire,and a man at a rich feaft would enjoy it lure but little, if he fmelt fire, ready to burn his houfe and himfelfin it. Thirdly, Darkneffe fills with terrours, fears in the night are moil dreadfull ; a [fate of fin is a Bate of fear. Men that owe much, have noquiet, but when they areafleep, and not then nei- ther,
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