Preston - BX9318 P725 1633

The Dotirinc öfMortifacatieri, theymay flacke, but it isbut for a time; he is coldand rctniffe in the duties ofholineffe, but itlafts not, it va- nifheth away : on the other fide,thewicked lye 8z con- tinue in Apoítacyunto the end ; in thefe it is natural', but unto the other it is but the inftigationofthedevil' working by force lull upononeofthe faculties. Now flackneffeor coldneffeofGods children may feemeto A three oh proceed from a threefold caufe: caufe the backilirliz a Frft,fromthat hollowhartedneffe that is in thechile the godly. drenofGod, which likea hollow wall faiswhen it is Caifèlt fhaken,becaufe itwas not firm:fo theirhearts being not firmlyeftablifhed in grace,nor rootedin theknowledg ofChrif,whenafic`tionsor reproches come,it (bakes down that hold which they feemed tohaveofChrift. Carr Secondly, thenext caufemayproceed from the evil! exampleofmen, which by their infinuationmay draw their affeEtions away, and carry them from that love that they had towards God : therefore takeheed to the infinuationof wickedmen, theywill fir(, labour to knowthedefire of your heart, and then they will fit thenafelves accordingly todeceive you ; and befides, the devil'workes effCtually by them. Thirdly,theTaft caufe may proceed fromthis,that he Go e 3 is removed from under a powerful' minifterywhich formerlyhelived under, unto a careleffe fhepheard, or at leaft anunprofitable one ; hereupon he maygrow remif% and cold in thedutiesof Religion : but never_ thelef'e although this arifeth frommen, yet the caufe is in themfelves;for what is thereafon that they fal,but becaufe theyfind fpirituall things dead in them, and an in-lacke ofgrace.Therfore Ibefeechyou takeheed Wailingaway for ifamanMould runne in the wayes 13 of

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