0o$ SERMONS upon Serm.25. within himfelf, .between his Reafon, and his carnal Delires. Diftranions in Worfhip are chiefly afcribed to Covetoufne0 : Ezek. 33. 3 r. With their Month they Chew much Love, but their Heart goeth after their Covetoufnefs. The Prophet inflances in that Sin, tho other Lufts withdraw the Heart, and diflraet in Hearing, as unclean Glances, vain Glory, &C. Words are but Thoughts exprefled, there is a quick ititercourfe between the Mind and the Tongue. Now it is faid, John 3.3 r. He that is of the Earth, is earth- ly, and fpeaketh of the Earth. There is nothing of Heaven in their Thoughts, nothing in their Language and Communication, a heavy Clod cannot move upward of it felt: Obferve the drift of your Thoughts, your firft and laft Thoughts Morning and Even- ing ; what Guefl haunteth you in Duties. When the Heart is deeply engaged, the Mind cannot be taken off from thinking. 2. By your efteem. When a Man prizeth worldly Things,when you over-rate them, have too greatning Thoughts of the World, the Devil is at your Elbow, and the Spi- rit of the VVorld is let a -work. Happy is the People that is in foch a Cafe, Pfal. 144. ult. VVhat is the Treafure of the Soul ? Carnal Men have no favour of Chrilt. God's People Cometimes may be taken with a glittering thew of worldly Things, but their lolid efteem is in Chris, he is their Treafure, the Soul fealts it felf with the Riches of Grace. To a Carnal Heart, heavenly things are but a Notion, it worketh no more than a Dream : To a gracious Heart, the Subftance of the VVorld is but a Fancy. John 14. 17. Whom the World cannot receive, becaufe it flesh bin, not, neither knoweth him. The VVorld cannot fee things, that are not of great Profit and Benefit. 3. By the Bent and Refolution of the VVill. r Tim. 6.9. They that will be rich, &c. not is, but will be. James 4.4. Whafaevee will be a Friend of the 1 Porld, is the Enemy of God. Grace is known by the full purpofe of the Heart. As is. 23. He exhorted them all, that with full purpofe of Heart they would cleave unto the Lord : V Vhat he fixeth upon as his End and Scope. 4. By a fpecial Sagacity and Dexterity in the Matters of the World, and a Dulnefs in the Things of God. Luke 16. 8. The Children of this World are in their Genera- tion wifir than the Children of Light. They have Oflriches Wings, not to fly, but to run. It is ftrange to hear how fottifhly worldly -wife Men will fpeak of Religion, and the Ways of God : they are dull and blockifh in Religion, though otherwife of great Ability. Rom. t6. 19. 1 would have you wife unto that which is good, and fmple concerning Evil. 5. By the Stream of your Deliires. Delires are the Pulls of the Soul : You may know the temper of your Souls, by the beating of the Pulfes, by the current and drift of your Delires ; as Phyficians judg by Appetite. The Saints plead their Affeaions. Ifs. 26.8. The defre of our Said is to thy Name, and to the remembrance of thee. They cannot, juftify their Innocency, yet they plead their Integrity, the vigorous bent of their Souls. So the Spirit of the World is known by an unfatisfied Thirlt, and the ravenoufnefs of the Delires, which rife with Enjoyment, for Rill Men crave more. Such a Dropfy argueth a diftempered Soul ; the Soul is tranfported beyond all bounds of Modefty and Contentment. Ifa. g. 8. VVo unto them that join Houle to Haufe, and Field to Field, till there be no 'Place, that they may be placed alone in the midft of the Earth. The inordinate Inclination (till increafeth, and Men never have enough. 6. By your Grief at worldly Loffes and Difappointments. Men lofe with Grief, what they poffefs with Love; the Affliaion rifeth according to the degree of the Affe- Ction. They that rejoice as tho they rejoiced not, weep as if they wept not, r Cor. 7. 3o. Earnelt Affenion will not brook difappointment. r Tim. 6. io. For the Love of Mony is the root of all Evil ; which while fame coveted after, they have erred from the Faith, and pierced themfelves through with many Sorrows. The Sorrow will be anfwerable to the Delire. You grieve more for the lofs of Wealth, than for the lofs of God's Counte- nance : The Bridegroom is gone, and you never mourn; but upon every worldly Lofs the Heart is dejeaed. What flight Thoughts have Men of God ? Thou art fad, if thou haft lóft but a Ring of value, the Offals of thy Eflate; but God's Acceffes and Receffes are never noted. Grief followeth Leve ; when Jefus wept for Lazarus, the Jews laid, Behold how he lovedhim ! John r t. 35. 7. Fear of Want, or an extraordinary Sollicitoufnefs about outward Proviltons, that is a lure Note of a worldly Heart. Chris was difputing againft worldlinefs 5 and among other Precepts, he faith, Luke 12. 29. Seek not ye what ye ¡hall eat, nor what ye j1all drink; neither be ye of doubtful mind. MA MATEC, gea9c, be not hovering between Doubts and Fears. This is to take God's Work out of his Hand. Sufpicious Fears, argue
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