There is a lawful use of Feasting,1 and comely Recreations; but to come with unjustifiable Vanities (that are not fit at any time) when we ⟨p. 18⟩should honour God for the greatest Gift that ever was, for the Incarnation of his Son; to be more profanely disposed then, and to give our selves to more loose courses then at other times; how can it but provoke the Justice of God, especially it being common? Amongst other things, we may justly look for the Vengeance of God for this, not only upon this or that place, for it is the fault of Christendom. Shall we carry our selves thus profanely at these times, when we should walk in a holy disposition? Is this the way to be thankful to God? Let us labour to entertain and embrace these Mysteries of the Gospel as we should, with a suitable carriage to them: for the Gospel will no longer tarry, then it hath suitable love and affections to the greatness of the thing. The Gospel may leave us we know not how soon, and go to people that are as barbarous as we were, before the Gospel came to us. The Romans thought, they had Victory tied to them; but we have not these Mysteries of the Gospel tied to us. If we labour not for an answerable carriage; as God hath removed the Gospel from the Eastern Churches of Asia, that are under the tyranny of the Turks now, so he may, and we know not how soon, take away these blessed and glorious Mysteries. Let us reverence these Mysteries, and bless God for them, and labour to express our thankfulness in our lives and conversations, that God may delight to continue with us, and continue his blessed Truth among us. Do but conceive ⟨p. 19⟩in your own selves, what equity is it, that Truths should be obtruded to men that care not for them? That live under the mysteries of the Gospel, with as much liberty to the flesh, as if they had never heard of it▪ that their lives are not better then Pagans, perhaps worse: When these things grow general, will God continue these Mysteries to us, when there is such a disproportion of affection, and carriage? Judge of these things. God should deal justly with us, if he should leave us to the darkness of Gentilism, and Popery, and confusion, and carry the Gospel further West still, to a people that never heard of it where it should have better entertainment then it hath had of us.
There is a lawfull use of Feasting,1 and comely Recreations; but to come with unjustifiable Vanities (that are not fit at any time) when wee ⟨p. 18⟩should honour God for the greatest Gift that ever was, for the Incarnation of his Sonne; to be more prophanely disposed then, and to give our selves to more loose courses then at other times; how can it but provoke the Justice of God, especially it being common? Amongst other things, we may justly looke for the Vengeance of God for this, not onely upon this or that place, for it is the fault of Christendome. Shall we carry our selves thus prophanely at these times, when we should walke in a holy disposition? Is this the way to be thankefull to God? Let us labour to entertaine and embrace these Mysteries of the Gospel as wee should, with a sutable carriage to them: for the Gospel will no longer tarry, then it hath sutable love and affections to the greatnesse of the thing. The Gospel may leave us we know not how soone, and goe to people that are as barbarous as we were, before the Gospel came to us. The Romans thought, they had Victory tyed to them; but we have not these Mysteries of the Gospel tyed to us. If we labour not for an answerable carriage; as God hath removed the Gospel from the Easterne Churches of Asia, that are under the tyrannie of the Turks now, so he may, and we know not how soone, take away these blessed and glorious Mysteries. Let us reverence these Mysteries, and blesse God for them, and labour to expresse our thankfulnesse in our lives and conversations, that God may delight to continue with us, and continue his blessed Truth among us. Doe but conceive ⟨p. 19⟩in your owne selves, what equity is it, that Truths should be obtruded to men that care not for them? That live under the mysteries of the Gospell, with as much liberty to the flesh, as if they had never heard of it▪ that their lives are not better then Pagans, perhaps worse: When these things grow generall, will God continue these Mysteries to us, when there is such a disproportion of affection, and carriage? Judge of these things. God should deale justly with us, if he should leave us to the darknesse of Gentilisme, and Poperie, and confusion, and carry the Gospel further West still, to a people that never heard of it where it should have better entertainment then it hath had of us.
- 1Application to the Feast of Christs Nativity.Application to the Feast of Christs Nativitie.
