68 .Put on the whole Armour ofGod. that cry for a knife or dagger,and are pleaf'd as well with a bone knife, and wooden dagger, as with the belt of all ? fo they have force armour, it matters not what. Pray they muft, but little care how it be performed : Beleeve in God ? yes, they hope they are not infidels : but what, it is, how they come by it, or whether it will hold, in an evil day, this never was put to the queftion in , their hearts. Thus thoufands perifb with a vain conceit, they are arm'd againft Satan,- death and judgment, when they are, mifirable crudeked, yea, worfe on it then thofe who are more naked,(thofe I mean who have not a rag of civi- lity, to hide their fhame from the worlds eye ; and that in a double refpeCt... Firfte it is harder to work on Inch a foul ravingly, becaufe he bath a forme, though not the power, and this affords him a plea. A foulepurely naked, nothing like the wedding garment on, he is fpeechleffe ; the drunkard bath nothing to fay for him- fell, when you ask him' why he lives fo fwinifbly ; you may come up to him, and get within him, and turn the very mouthof his confcience uponhim;which will fh-oot conviction into him: But come to deal withone that prayes and hearts; one that is a pretender to faith and hope in God, here is a man in gliftering armour, he bath his weapon in his hand, with which he will keep the Preacher,, and the Word he chargeth him with at armes length. Who can fay,I amnot a Saint? what duty ao, I negleCt ? here's a breathwork be lies under, which makes-11441ot fo faire a mark either to the obfervation or reproof oCallother, b:s chief defect beingwithin, where mans eye comes riot.. Again, 'tis harder to work on him, becaufe he bath been tarnper'd- with already, and mifcarried in the effay. How tomes fuch a one to be acquainted with filch duties, to make fuch, a Profeifion was it ever thus? No, w the Word bath been at ork upon birn,.bis conicience bath feared. him from.his trade of wickal aerie into a forme of Profeflion, but taking in fhort of,Chrill, for want of a through change, it is.harde to remove him then the other : he is :like a lock whole wards have been troubled which makes it harder to turn:the Key, then if never pottert(with. 'Tis better . dealing with a wade ragged colt, never back's, then yne rhat in breaking bath took a. wrong fIroak. A bone quite oht ofjoynt thenfalle let. Inaword, inch a one bath more to deny then a Amesnmall011ai
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