Some general directions for a comfortable walking with God delivered in the lecture at…Some generall directions for a comfortable walking with God deliuered in the lecture at…

2. For the second, though God may permit thee to possess still that outward worldly comfort, upon which the fury of thine affection is so fastened, and thine heart grasps with such greediness and excess; yet in this case thou mayest justly expect a cross; either, 1. In the thing doted upon. With what a deal of cutting discomfort, and gashes of bitter grief did Absalom dandled in Davids affection with too much indulgence, rent his Fathers royal heart by imbruing his hands in his brothers blood, and with unnatural traitorous violence and villainy snatching at the Imperial Crown upon Davids head? Another famous instance to this purpose we find in the story of the Greek Emperors. The old Emperor Andronicus doted with such extreme impotency of partial affection upon his Nephew, young Andronicus, that in comparison of him, he did not only disregard the rest of his Nephews, but also his own children: and as the¹ Story tells us, was not willing to spare him out of sight either ⟨p. 218⟩day or night. But what were the consequents of this cockering? When he was stepped further into years, besides a world of miseries and molestations created to his Grandfather in the mean time, at length pressing without resistance upon his Palace, with purpose to surprise his person, though the old Emperor entreated him with much affectionate Royal eloquence, which might have pierced an heart of steel or Adamant, That he would reverence those hands, which had oftentimes most lovingly embraced him, yet crying in his swathing clothes: that he would reverence those lips, which had oftentimes most lovingly kissed him, and called him his other Soul: that he would spare to spill that blood, from which himself had taken the fountain of life, &c. For all this, after some kind words, and courteous embracement, at first indeed premised, and in hot blood; in conclusion, being polled and shaven, was made a Monk, and the Anvil of much dunghill scorn and vilest indignities, until the workmanship of death had finished the sorrowful business of a wretched life. A third, and very remarkable to fright all Parents from foolish doting, hear out of Austin. ^aBy reason of a terrible & dreadful accident, he called his people together, as it seems, to a Sermon the third time, the same day;

2. For the second, though God may permit thee to possesse still that outward worldly comfort, vpon which the fury of thine affection is so fastened, and thine heart graspes with such greedinesse and excesse; yet in this case thou mayest iustly expect a crosse; either, 1. In the thing doted vpon. With what a deale of cutting discomfort, and gashes of bitter griefe did Absalom dandled in Dauids affection with too much indulgence, rent his Fathers royall heart by imbruing his hands in his brothers blood, and with vnnaturall trayterous violence and villany snatching at the Imperiall Crowne vpon Dauids head? Another famous instance to this purpose we find in the story of the Greeke Emperours. The old Emperour Andronicus doted with such extreme impotency of partiall affection vpon his Nephew, young Andronicus, that in comparison of him, he did not onely disregard the rest of his Nephewes, but also his owne children: and as the