A25478:1741
A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…
A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically resolved by sundry ministers
London: printed for Thomas Cockerill, 1676
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
4. Do not deceive your self, and say, it is for want of gifts; when it is more for want of a heart and love to the duty. To discover this, Suppose a Law were made by our Governors, that every Master of a Family that doth not pray in his house with his Family, shall be cast into the Lions Den: What would you do then? Would you rather venture your life and be torn in pieces by Lions, than set upon this duty, with that Knowledge, and those Gifts that now you have? Would you not find something to say to save your Lives? And is not the Law of God as binding as the Laws of men? and the Dungeon of Hell as dreadful as the Lions Den? Go then, set upon your duty.
4. Do not deceive your self, and say, it is for want of gifts; when it is more for want of a heart and love to the duty. To discover this, Suppose a Law were made by our Governours, that every Master of a Family that doth not pray in his house with his Family, shall be cast into the Lions Den: What would you do then? Would you rather venture your life and be torn in pieces by Lions, than set upon this duty, with that Knowledg, and those Gifts that now you have? Would you not find something to say to save your Lives? And is not the Law of God as binding as the Laws of men? and the Dungeon of Hell as dreadful as the Lions Den? Go then, set upon your duty.
Obj. 5. But there are some graceless and wicked persons in my Family, that I cannot say we desire this or that spiritual blessing, grace, Christ. &c. for I see no ground to judge they desire any such thing.
Answ. 1. Have they no grace? and must they not pray that they may have some? O cruelty! Is he exempted from duty, because he is not good? or wilt thou say, that such must only pray alone? and be excluded (while such) from conjunct prayers? Whither will this carry you? Even to the shutting of all graceless or at least visibly wicked persons from all prayers in public Congregations, as well as from Family duty; But this is so gross, that I suppose you will not own it. You have no reason then for the other.