. g ~~~·iffiau 10utr. 65 verbs : .i-t pleafeth not ·God that aduty be cl one, except it be well done. Man_y fatidietheir own confciences that th~y have prayed, btit confider n9t how they prayed : there's a ,Curie on fuc'h -as 'do the · · ' , work of God neglige~~ly ;. and·, th'at /:ri 4 8 · f3· , ~~ have in their floGk a male, an'd offer · - ' 1 • 1 • 1 4· to ~th~ Lotd a corrupt thing: And it's a fearful thing. to get a.curfe upon our knees, when wecome for a blei– fing: Look to ir, Gocl takes noticeJilow youpray, the Devil ftands under your Clofet·W~ndo~, and heareth what you fay to God in.fecret, all the while_fiu,dying how'~e ~aycommencea!uit aga!nJ.!_you for your du~): Like thofe that come to Sermons to carp or catch at what the Preacher faith ;in' (as one faith) like acunning oppone~t i!J th~ _School_s, whil~ his adllerfary is bu!ie readinghis Pdfition,he;it.flt~dying toconfute it; and oh, .. whar· a~v.~_~a~e '~d<:V~~:~rr.~_n ~~ve ~?ra.n - t? t,ri_p us, an~ rake ,us tardy'"? t WWatroccafion do·we afford ,htmto ac- · cufe us to God and to our felves, while\t-e··h~veour fil– thygarments onps '?Yea remifsnefs in ~ur ~'uties brings decay in grace. TradtlliDen may gobe~indhand hy be– ing carel~fs in their dealings.,. as well as'by_being much out of their ·fbops: :. Alas, what fad<iecay 'is in our fouls for. want ofdote and confi:ant commun·ion with God ? We havevery perv~rfe hear.ts, 'We have much ad~ with the~ · ;· i\VAen. We WOUld do good, evi,l is pr_efent: it is our great fin we ate fo .much out oford~r, even upon· our knees. ,Sara·a fends his Imps t'o hatint·and torment us, he jog~ our ha.nd when we are·to write a· Letter tp Heaven in out Prayers ;' fo that we'c'htf fcarce make fenfe of what we prefenr to God: · Our thoughts are un~xed, tang-ing abroad like a" Spaniel to a thoufand objects, fo that fonieti_tnes we have loft our.felves, and know not where we are : Oh let us lament our vain and · rifling fpirits ·in ·fecret duties, and · turn,'us unto God · for help, as· aServaiit 1 when the child he tends is troo- . blefo
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