Ver,15. the I7thChapter of St. J OH N. 215' tion may prove a Snare.' So every Calling, and Courfe of Life. In ordinary Cal- lings, a long familiarity breedeth a liking, and the Soul receiveth Taints from Objects to which we are accuflomed. Men that have much to do in the World, had need take heed of a worldly Spirit continual pretence of the Objeft, fecretly linketh the Affe- élions : Long fuits prevail at length, and green Wood kindleth by long lying on the Fire. When the Comte of your Callings and Emploiments, put you much upon worldly Bufrnefs, the Heart is drawn away from God inCenfibly, and you will find lefs favour in Holy Things. Yea, in that Calling which immediately refpects the Service of God, there wants not Snares. r Tim. 3. 6, Not a Novice, left being pieFd up with Pride, he Meth into the condemnation of the Devil. Holy Things are often abufed by pervert Aim. Thole that are let on the Pinacles of the Temple, are in danger : _ The Devil carried Chrift thither, with an intent to tempt him. Chrift prayeth here principally for the College of the ApoRles : Miuifters are in danger as well as others 5 we have our Temptations as well as you. Nay, in all A &ions and Imploiments, Wor- (hip, Feeding, Trading, Sporting, all thefe may become a Snare ; and Temptations are like the Wind that bloweth from every Corner, Eaft, Weft, North, and South. So there are Temptations in Wor(hip, to Pride, Self confidence, Carnal diffractions. Satan Realethaway our Hearts from under Chríft's own Arm. When the Sons of-God met together, Satan roas amongii them, Job t. 6. Not only our Table may be turned in- to a Snare, but Duties into hung,, In Recreations, Eating, Drinking, Bodily- refreth- ntente, there is a Snare. Job i. 5. yob facrificed, while his Children were a banquet- ing. At a Feaf, there are more Gueffs than are invited; Evil Spirits haunt fuch Meet- ings ; and umually. Men let Mole themfelves -to a carnal Liberty at fuch a time. Satan, to be Cure to be welcome, bringeth his Difh with him, a Bait for every Humour. r Tim. 4.5 The Creatures muß be fanthfied by the Word of God,and by Prayer. We muff not only ask God's Leave, but his Blaring. So Pleafures, if not fanaified, bring a brawn and deadnefs upon the Heart : i Tim. 5.6. She that liveth in pleafore, is dead while Elie liveth. So alto in all Places, in Company, and when we are alone, we are (till in dan- ger : In Company, weare in danger to be provoked to Wrath, or tempted to Sin ; tho open Exceffes manifeft their own odioufnefs, yet fecretly we learn of one another to be cold, carelefs, lets mortified. In good Company, Nature is very fufceptible of Evil, and we imitate their Weakneffes (boner than their "Graces. Gal. a. i3. Barnabas was carried away with their dimulations. So in Privacy, when we are alone, the Devil often abufeth our Sollitude, Chrift was tempted in the Wildernefs, Mat. 4. i. In the vat World there is no Corner, where a Man can be privileged from Temptations; how hard a Matter is if to be alone, when we are alone ? or to have none with us but God and our own Souls ? It is good to be alone with God, but not with Satan. John í6.3a. re Hiatt leave me alone, acri yet 1 am not alone, for the Father is with me. Now few can fay fo ; alas ! we have caufe to fay, here I am alone,but I am not alone, for Sa- tan is with me. So alto there is danger from the Men of the World, and the Things of the World. The Men of the World are apt to infnare us by their Counfels or Threatnings : Sin is as earneft to propagate it felf as Grace ; 'wicked Men would have the whole World to be all of a piece, they are Panders and Bawds to Wickednefs, to draw others into the fame Snare, with which. they are held themfelves : they are the Devil's Fa &ors ; and when they cannot prevail, then they rage, and fonder, and per- fecute, They think firange, that you do not run with them into the fame excels of riot, (peaking evil of you, i Pet. 4.4. The Wills of Men are ranked with the Lulls of the Fief!), Verf. a, 3. That he no longer Hamad live the ref( of bis time in the Refit, to the Lufts of Men, but to the Will of God, For the time pofi of our Life may fnfce us to have wrought the Will of the Gentiles, when we lived in Lafeiviaufnef, Lnfts, exceh of Wine, &c. Then the Things of the World. There are feveral Baits for every Temper, Pleafures, Honours, Profits. Satan is well skilled in Tempers; he dreffeth the Temptation in that Livery, which fuiteth with every Man's Humour and Complexion, and plieth that Objea which fuiteth with the Diftemper ; he knoweth every Diftemper loveth the Diet that feedeth it; bath Honours for the Ambitious, Wealth for the Covetous, Plea- fures for the Senlual ; and God by a Righteous Difpenfation permitteth it. Jer. 6.2 r. Therefore thus faith the Lord, Behold, I will lay humbling- blocks before this People, and the Fathers and the Sons together frill fall upon them. As when we futpdt a Servant to be given to filching, we leave loofe Mony about the Houle, to try if he will Real it : So God, to try us, may Culler Satan to ply us wit% a Diet fuitable to our Diftemper. Secondly 5
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