Tie `,á'latforme ofObedience. 339. teth all his ftrengthandskill to theadvancement ofSathans kingdome, and to fleepromotingandfurtheranceofiniquity. Thevfeof thisdoarine,is, astovrgevponvs that dutywhichweof rightThe Pfe. owe vnto the Lord ; namely, ofgiuing the firmgth and powerofall that isin vs veto him, fotocondemne our generalldefc&herein, For marke how vn- willing andbackward men for the moll part are inthis duty . How hard a matter it is toperfwade them to imploytheir mdgementsandconceits , and that power of vnderfiandingwhich God hath giuen them , to the fearching outof Gods Truth, and tothe getting offoundknowledge andgood fudge ruent in matters of religion , Where. death is it to the moll to beate their heads, or totrouble themfelueuwith thematters ofehatqtaality How loath are they to labour romake their memories flore-houlesofgoo!things? You rhall haue many that will take a great draleofpainest%learn Balladsand idle Songs, who wouldgrudgeto learntafewQn iionsandAnfwgg}jsofaCate- chifine. How livelyand quicke aremews affeltionsinmattersMlállity, *tat- ters of profit,mattersofnomoment in comparifon:and yet how dead,and ve' terlywithout life in the bell occafions,howdul and withoutSpirit inmatters ofReligion? How apt are megs tdngues to talkeofthdthigs # llris world? How euen eloquentiseuery. maitin mattersofthat nature; you (hall fee few who want wordsto exprelle that Which they haueconceiued r but (alas)how mute, howbarren,howharih, whenthey come tofpeake ofGods matters? Howableare mens recce ro traueil,andtheir bodies to endureiourneyes, for theirprofit,ordelight?how little redkoningeheÿ;makeofwayes orweathers epos thereoccafrons? But how Toone beethey weary,andhowquickly Both weather andway difcourage them, when their bodies and legsare tobeim. ployed nn repairingro the poblikeplacesofGods fernfce?bowcafîe joie th forne to keepe their eyes open, earn wholenights fometinses, at idlegaming; and howhardfor the fameperlons to hold vptheir head onepoore home at thehearing of aSermon?How quickly doe menliften whenanymatterofpro- fit is related ro them ?how duUofhearing, when the holyWord ofGod isprea_: tHeb j i,. ched vnto t hem?How open are menshands,in taking whatfoeuer theytan lay hold of?one forbribery ,another forvfury,anotherfor falfegaine inbuyingand felling ; another in pilfering, curry man for his aduantage : but(alas)howfáft fingered anddole handed are they,whenany thing lhouldcome from themto a goodpurpofc? Howready are many to be at charges , notcaring whatthey fpend;fome in hawking,foinein reuellin$,fomein brauery fortheir backs,and yermurmure at a penny tobebellowed toa charitable vfe? This is not togiro. oarmembers as weaponsofRighteoufilogeonto Clod,but rather asWeapons of lni. quityagainft God? Let vs thenend this point,and letthis beethe conclusion : You fee whatwee are all here commanded , euen to imployall to theferuice andhonour ofhim, from whom wee haue receiued all. God bathgiuenvs power to coneeiue, let vs glue thatpower to the learningofhis will:he hath enabledvs toremember,let vs imploy that faculty tothe hoording vpofgood things.He bath giuenvs hearing; let our Bares beopen to receiue hnftrultioh, and tohearken what the,LardGadwUlfay': Her bath vonchfafed vsmany good up,;,aj. parts bothofbody andminde,letvs consecrate thent allto thecarefull and re- ligiouspradlife ofholy duties. Thou who haft beena (wearer, let not thy tongue beanymore a Weapon of inne,to blafphemeGod,and to abufehisgiuri. OW andfeareferll name `, but let isbean Infirument of honouringGod. Thou Deueas,t& who haft been an Adulterer, let not thy bodybee any more a finkeof vn- cleannelfe, but labour to 'torero thy Yeffellin balaseffe and ixhonorer 5. Thou who x t Thcff4.4; hall been a Drunkard, makenot thy ftomsckeareceirofriotous fuperlirrity, anda wafter of Gods good creatures, but vfeGods bleffrngsfo, that thon mayeft bee the fitter for Gods feruice. Thou who art aSabbath- breaker, G g 4 whore.)
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