C H A P.4. EPtfitle to theTheffalottians. V E R.4. 267 in ye h, if the ioility of that Age J1 al heel. brought re' z Erc1.i1.9. Iudgement;ler inch tremble to hearten themfelues in filch fumes as exclude from Heauen, andglue a prrtion with a Reu.zi.t. Hjpocrites, in the Lake that hur"nes for euer. Should know : that is, haue skill. The Apofile feemes to imply, that L there is a kind of art of Chaftity,and great skill required to poirelre our veiíell in holinelie,&c, Truth is, Chriffia- nity u an Art or Science ; and no fmall kit is required to Tegulor exercife of Chrifhan vertues. G R E G() tt Y N A- Z IAN ZEN E Paid once, the cure of Souks was the Sci- ence of Sciences; generally it is true of Chrifiianiry ; It is the Art of Arts : the art of liuing well. To this end, Saint 'Peter aduif erh, to ioyne to our vertue, b knowledge ; b z Ptt.i.q. as I conceiue him, skill in the exercifé'of Chri,ttian Ver- tues.' Pant in a particular , makes it a point of c msy(lica/t c pbit.4,IS. knowledge ; to carry himfelfe equally, and with euen hand in all Effares. In Prayer, he would intimate wonderfull skill redui- red; and not learnt 'but of an d` heaúenlySchoolemaffer: d Rom,S.z6, That knew the Difciples" well, and therefore it is their Petition, e Lord, teach vs to pray, To fay in a word, what e puke I s.i : one Chritian Vertue or Duty is ir, that askes not skill to the right vfe and performance ()fit? take inflance in that of Faith, How ro vphold it when it waters : to reffrain it when it degenerates towards prcfumprion: how ro turne the rye of ir, from the Law to the Goipell, from Gods luflicetohis Mercy ;Hcre/lire i the wifedomeof 1,e - leening. How Many fee we for hcke of this skill, if not utterly mif- carry, yet dangeroufly hazarding their foules to Ihip -wracke? the Pi-el-tuner thinker of the rich mercy ofGod 5 the Defperate, of his ftrici Iuffice. Wifedonae would teach to fit our meditation to our prefer-It Rate. See it in a duty, that may leeme mofl eafie -, fuppofe,hea- ring theWord of God. lt is nor, as is thought, a worke of euery Ideot andidle.Foole, to be a hearer; to heare as we ought, requires skill more then ordinary ; to eye our minds
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