Contemplations. LIB. the oft:fpringoffomo ftrangors,whicl~ by vicinity ofabode, have gotten fom'}tiJ;l-=-A Cture ofour langu•ge, manners, reilgwn ; What have we to doe wid1 them, what ha\e they to do wtth the Tabernacle ofGod? Sith thereforewe may noreither remo,·e Gods Altar to us,or remove ourPatcimony to tbealtar;the Pattern ofthe altar O>all goe with us,not for facrifice,but for meruoriall;that both the polleriry of the other Ifraclites.may know we are no lclfe deriyed}{2m them, than this A.H;a,r from theirs; and t hat out poflerity may kno1v they pertainc to that Altarwbereof this is rhe rcfemblance. There wasno danger of tlte p~efent; bur poflerity might both offer and rccct~c prcjud~er, ifthis Monument were not. lr is a ivifeand holy cae to prevent the dangers ofcnfuing rimes,and to fettle Religion upon t~l' fuocccding generations. Aswe affea to leave apetpetuityofour bodily itl'ue,fomqch m'ore ro tradttce piety with them.Dowe not fee good husbands fetand plant thofe . trees, w)Jereof thsir wan~-children !h_all ~ec~ive the firfl. fruit, an<;! fhade I Why arc we lctfc thnfry.1n Jeavmg true reltg~ODJRt!re to our~hi:ldrens children? EH v D and E G L oN. S e\cry man is guilty of his owne forr01v, thefe lfraclires brcdmif. chiefe to themfelves : It was their mercy that p!aaucd them with thofe Canaanires, which their obedience Owuldh~veroored out. If foolifh pmy be a mo~ehumane linne, yet it is no lelfe dangerous than cruelty : C ruclty kils others,unjufl pirty kils '?urfelves. They had bm Lords alone ofthe 'f1rom1fed land,1ftheu conHferation had over-1\v:tvd their jullice,and now,their enemies areroo cruell to them (in rhe bccaufe they were too merciful!. That God, which m his rt>- vcJled · had commandedall the Canaanires t<;> the !laughter, yet fecretl)' gives over Ifrael to a toleration offomeCanaa01tes for fheir O)vne punjfhment.He bath bidden us cleanfe our hearts of all our corruptions: yet he-will peimit fome of thefe thornes fiill in <;>ur fides,for exercife,for humiliation. If we could lay violent hands upon our £ins, our foules fhould h~ve pea~e;n~w,ourindulgence coils us ma,. ny !lripes: a~d many teares, what a contmuc;d cucle is,hereoffins,judgements, repentance, de!tverances?The canverfatton With Idolaters,tamts them with lin;thcir D (in draws on judgement,the fmart of the ;udgement moves them torepentance,upontheir repentance fol101ves fpeedy deliverance, upon their peace and deliverance they fin againe. Oth;,iel, Cafebs nephew, had refcued them from Idolatry and fcrvirude:his lifealld theirinoocenceand peace en~ed togethcr:H~•v po•verful the prcfence ofone good man Js in a Church or State,1s bell found m hts 1olfe. A man that is at once eminent in place and goodnes,is like a ftake in a hedge;pul that up,and a! the reil are;but loofe and rotten llicks,eafily removed:or like t6e pillar of a vaulted roof,which either fupports, or ruins the building. Whowould not think Idolatry anabfurd and unnatural fin,which as it bath the fewefl inducements, E (0 had alfo the moll dire& inhibitions from God; and yet after all the(e warnings, I frac! fals into it againc : neither affiittion, nor repentance can fecure an Ifraelite, from redoubling t[le worft fin, if he be left to his owne frailty. It is no ccnfuring of the truth ofour prefent for row, by the event o~ a following mif-carri~ge; Th~ former cries ofifrael to Godwcreunfamed,yettheJr prefentw1ckednelfe 1s abominable: Let him that thinks he !lands,take heed ]ell he fall. No fooner bad he faid(Ifrael)1ad rcfl)but heads,They committed wickednes:Tbe fecurity ofany people is the caufe oftheir corruption; !landing .vaters foon grow noifome. Whiles they wereexerc1fed w1th war, ho~v fcrupulous were they of the !call intimation ofidolatry?the news ofa bare Altar beyond Jordan,dre.r them together for a revengc;no1v 1 hey arc at peace with their enemies, they are<tt_vanance With
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