Heywood - BS2575 H49 1687

SECT. IV. Shewing the property of a true Chriftian. ONce more I.mightfhew the duty andproperty of a fiocere Chrifl:ian, that can make this excellent ufe of folitarinefs: Carnal perfons love not to be alone, except ~hey befuchwhofe conftitu-tion inclines them to. Melartcholy, and then they fit poring·bn things without profit; 'tis only the gracious foul that can tell how to make the right ufe of iolitarinefs, by having recourfe to God: No man cares for beingalonebut the feriousper.. fon ; a,nd no .man cares for going to God when alone, but thefincere ~hriftian ~ .~an is a fociable creature, arid naturalJy \Ve ha~e oo mind to entertain our felves by ou_r felves; Acarn'll heart hates adomeH:ical Audit, men that' have lhrewifl1 wives love not to be at ho1ne, and ·perfons that have guilty coniCiencescannot endure to hold difcourfe with them,lefl: they be tormented be– fore the time:' Oh but a Chriftian that is upright, and down-right, wot;tld know all that concerns his own heart; the bell and worft; therefore he communes with his oyvi1 heart, as David-did; anq Pfi 1 6 ~ . left hemifs or mifiake in his fearch, , a · 77 • • · , he turns him to the heart-fearchingGqd.by Prayer,an~ ·er yes out to him to fearch his heart and difcover him to himfelf : The life of Religion confifis in a fouls com– rilunion with God in fecret ; a -man hath, fo much -Re– ligion as he bath betwixt God and his own Saul,and no more : A trrie Saint dares approve his heart to G~d in ;i_Corner .: He; is the~e ex~rci~ng himfelf, l!ke a.soul~ dter by htmfelf handhng hts Ptke, and keeptng htspo– fi:ures, that he may be better fitted for a more folemn onfet~ Yea a Chriftian doth purpofety·withdrawhimfelf · from

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=