what if Satan should set upon thee, what if the world should set upon thee, what if a suitable temptation agreeable to thy lusts be offered, art thou not in danger? and therefore a constant course should be kept in it, we should take heed of being negligent in it. And will a man now profess that he hopes he is the servant of God, and in a good estate, although he do not pray so much as others, (we speak not of frequency simply, but of such a performance as is required) I say, to profess that thou art a servant of Christ, and that thou lovest […], and that he is thy husband, and that thou ⟨p. 25⟩art his servant, and yet thou callest not upon him from day to day, this is an idle thing, it is impossible; if thou didst love him, thou wouldst express thy self in calling upon his name. Shall a friend that is but an acquaintance to us, in whom we delight come to us, and we are willing to spend many hours with him, and shall we profess our selves to be friends of God, and him to be a friend to us, and that we delight in him, and yet neglect this duty? this is a common thing amongst you, when you see a man that meditates all his matters himself, or, if he do open his mind, and tell them to somebody else, it must be such a one as professeth to be a friend to him, now if this friend should never hear from him, nor he should never speak to him, or if he do, it is in such a negligent manner, as it may appear, he doth not trust him, he doth not regard what he can do for him, and he doth it so shortly, that he can scarcely tell what the business is, I say, in such a case, would you not reckon his profession of friendship to be an idle, and empty profession? now apply it to thy self, those that say they have communion with God, and they hope their estate is good enough, they stand in good terms with him, but yet, if they •e in any necessity, for all the matters and occasions that fall out from day to day, either they think of them in themselves, or they are apt enough to declare them to man, or if they go to God, they do it negligently, they post over the matter, so as they ⟨p. 26⟩have scarce leisure to express themselves and their doings; do you think he will take such for friends? and do you think, that this is a true sound and hearty profession?
what if Sathan should set vpon thee, what if the world should set vpon thee, what if a sutable temptation agreeable to thy lusts be offered, art thou not in danger? and therefore a constant course should be kept in it, we should take heed of being negligent in it. And will a man now professe that hee hopes he is the servant of God, and in a good estate, although he do not pray so much as others, (we speake not of frequency simply, but of such a performance as is required) I say, to professe that thou art a servant of Christ, and that thou louest 〈…〉, and that he is thy husband, and that thou ⟨p. 25⟩art his servant, and yet thou callest not upon him from day to day, this is an idle thing, it is impossible; if thou didst loue him, thou wouldst express thy self in calling vpō his name. Shal a friend that is but an acquaintance to vs, in whom we delight come to vs, and we are willing to spend many houres with him, and shall we professe our selues to be friends of God, and him to be a friend to vs, and that we delight in him, and yet neglect this duty? this is a common thing amongst you, when you see a man that meditates all his matters himselfe, or, if he doe open his mind, and tell them to somebody else, it must be such a one as professeth to be a friend to him, now if this friend should never heare from him, nor hee should never speake to him, or if he doe, it is in such a negligent manner, as it may appeare, hee doth not trust him, he doth not regard what hee can doe for him, and he doth it so shortly, that hee can scarsely tell what the businesse is, I say, in such a case, would you not reckon his profession of friendship to be an idle, and emptie profession? now apply it to thy selfe, those that say they haue communion with God, and they hope their estate is good enough, they stand in good tearms with him, but yet, if they •e in any necessitie, for all the matters and occasions that fall out from day to day, either they thinke of them in themselues, or they are apt enough to declare them to man, or if they goe to God, they doe it negligently, they post ouer the matter, so as they ⟨p. 26⟩haue scarce leisure to expresse themselues and their doings; doe you thinke hee will take such for friends? and do you thinke, that this is a true sound and hearty profession?
