Taylor - Houston-Packer Collection BS2755 .T394 1619

CttAP.3.3. 6o: r.loh.a.si. 3 The deceit of the heart pue. ring forth it felfe in fundtio vnaodly pra. dire% I Zeph.t.ta. e( Commemtarie vponthe Moone, or aarre,but walking in darkeneffe knawe notwhether we tende. 3. Wehaue a wandring sad vagrant vaineeuen after our calling, and titer- fore much more before: how haue the Saintsof God complained in their owne, and in the nameof theChurch, Ifa.q3.6.We baste 411wandred likeloflfheepe.The like Dauidcónfeffethof himfelfe, and euen after con- uer6on theLordmull (fill be feeking vs vp, Pfal.t 19.176. Oh feelte thy ferxant, for els we haue no lift to returne to the (hepheardofour foules Icfus Chriß. Now the reafonof all this error, is a filthy flatterieof the heart, and a guilfull fecuritie offpirit,which holdethmen from feekinghappineffe where it is to be had, while they miflaking their condition make faire weather with their foules, when in themeant time all is amiffe,and they for truth embrace nothingbut dangerous anddamnable error. We Thal not neede trauell farce to feeke inflances of fuch vagrants out of the wayesof God : and yet aske any of themwhat way they trauell, all of them haft toheauen, andwill be there as foone as thebell, ifwemay be- leeue them. I might here faue force labour,but that the world fwarmeth with fuch wanderers; and that I take it much materials to our point and purpofe, to (hewhow farcemany are out of the rightway,how little ac- quaintance manyChriflians haue withChrifl, ofwhom,fotneneuer law his face, neuer falutedhim : others haue thought it their bcfi fecuritie to [land a loofe and follow him a farce off: andothers after a little ac- quaintance with him, doe as many difciples did, fall off from him, and walke with him no more. But a little further to profecute the point in particular. Phil, what a fearefull deceit is that ofmany ruffianlyPrereffanrs, who ilrengthen themfelues in their fumes, fometirnes puttingoffall the feare of Gods indite, and growing intocontempt of his judgements; forne- timesabfoluing themfelues from the guilt and curieof finne in hope of impunitie; as though theLord were become an idle effence, who bath put off thepower ofiudging the world, and reuenging the wickedneffe ofit. The Prophet Zephanie noted in his time fuck a knot of vngodly men that werefrozen in their dregges: but howcame they ro this fetled- neffein Cultic ? they faid in their hearts, tufh,the Lord willdoe neither good nor mill. Anddid this finne diewith that age?Howcould it then be chit men fhould fo generally fauour themfelues in their tuffs, and become fo violent in fulfilling thetn,iftheydid not conceiuepeace in them? howe could fo manyof ourage fcorne religion, contemne goddneffe , outface goodneffe andconfcience ? how could it be if the Lords filence bred not fecurity, that we (}torrid in vain cry out fo loud vpóprofaners ofthe Lords fabbaths and ordinances, againa adulterers,drunkards,extortio-_ nets,'

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