.• _________ ...._.;.....;..~...;;...-..:..-:...----...;....;---------- _171 An Expofition, with Nstes . 3· It difparageth Chriflianity : The glory c1 our Religion lieth in the power that it hath tofan{]ifie and meekfn the fpirit. Now when men that profefs Chrif.l: break out into fuch rude and. i~difcreet excefles, they fiain their profeffion, and ·debafe Faith be- · neath the ra·te of Reafon ; as if M'()rtfllity could better cure the irregularities of Nature then Religi-on. Heathens are fatnous for their patience under injuries, difcovered not ondy in their foyings and rules for the bridling of pa'ffion, but in their prauicr:; many of their J:,yings were very ilriet: and exael'; for by the progreffive inferencfs of Reafon they fancied rules of perfeCl:ion, but indeed looked upon them as calculated for talk_' racher then rrartic-e : But when I finde them in their lives paffing by offences witha meek fpirit, without any diilurbance and purpofesof revengeful returns, I cannot but wonder, and be atbamed tha-t I lhave lefs command and rule of my own fpirit then they had, having fo mach advantage of rule and motiveabove 1hem : as when I read that : T l~tlilrch. * Lycu-rgtu had one of his eyes fl:ruck out by an infolent young– ten v~ta Ly- man, andyet ufed much lenity and love to the party that d·id it; curgz. how can I choofe but bluth at thofe eager profecutions that are iA my owr:1 fpirit upon every light dfftafl:e ? that I mull have limb for limb, toothfor tooth.~ and cannot be quiet till I'have.r-enurned . reviling for reviliqg ?&c. Certainly1cannot diibonour the Law of Chrift more , then to do lefs then they did by the Law 'uf Nature. Verfe 21. Whetefore lt!J apart all jilthinefs andf~perflu.ity of . naughtinefs, and r.eceiv.e With mee.k_nefs rtbt in– grafted Word, "Which u able to faveymr_..Souls. The Apofile having 'formerly f{Jo ketif of the:power of the W'Ord, and.from thence inferred, That it .fh0uld<l»e heard willingly, ·aad without a .ca~illing .or 'comradiCt:iqg lpiri't, and to that purpofe having fllt!wed .the evil of wrath; ·he again enforceth rP,e main Exhortationof la.yirrg..afideall wrathf!.!l and ·exulcerated affecHons, that they rnight'be fit:mer to entertain theWol'dwit-h an· honejf ·and meek._ hear.tlor their·Gomfort and Salvation. There is-in the 'Verfe a.d11g., arnhhat;is re..C·'eiving ofthe word; the heip•fS;it;afiS ·.tt~ac is ,>faJift!Jj.ajide ~e,viY.frame:r 1 of tpirit: Then thel:'e iis the in~nner how·ohis dm.. y is 1to·bre ,performed, wPth •7'!1t<ok,!lef} : t fh~B <rhe·n~Nt end, and that is ingrafting the Word; then the /(:l{f,cwd 1 ~whi~h:js . pro:
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