CaAr.5. tipifiletotheThefalouians. VER. t t. 46t Thirdly,TheLord requires of his children continual] growth, and encrcafe in holy prat-life. Standing at a flay in good courfes, is as dangerous as declining ; yea, a flep to backe- (tiding. Therefore faid the Apoftie, Though ye loue one another, yet I befeech you z that lee incrcafe more and more. Let it not therefore fecme flange vnto vs -,., that our yfe, haling fometrmes in the Apoflle fteps, prelíevponvs the duties, which, by Gods Grace, wee already confcionably performs ; if no ocher benefit come thereby,at lean our Apeftafie (hall be preucnted. Through ignorance I know it is, it comes to palle, that our admonitions, inftruflions, exhortations, are many times cenfured as accufations of our people ; and forfooth wee feeme to imply, the duties are wholly neg -` leEled, that we preiTe with fuch inflance. And if they be points already knowne, we chinks theinlfling there- on, intimates our ignorance. But fpecially ; if they bee finnes we reproue, and they not apparant in the Con gregation, that is prefencly interpreted, as a matter of flander, and no le&Tè than defamation laid vpon the Pa- rifh, Shewthedangerof Drunkennelfe, Whoring, &c. H makes vs, they fay, a company of liach Mifcreants. There are none fuch atnongfl vs. Now vtinam. Would God wee might once fce our Congregations fo farce re- formed, that.chepublike praelife of fuih finnes might be bloated. at. But fuppofè it true, wee-. are free from fuch finnes : Its that cafe, thinke not your perlons, bur your Nature accufed. And that ram farenone can excufe from incli- nations to fouled finnes. That fpeech of Hazael, argued littleacquaintance with the corruption of Nature: a Ir thy feruent a D ogge, that l /hoùld doe this :lung? Sure it is, there is no finne, nor degree of finne, but the feeds thereof remain a in our Nature. Secondly, Sometimes they are as I o, N A r H A N S Arroweg = r Theíl' 4.9
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=