A26804:88

Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

Name: Sermons preached on several occasions
Author: William Bates

Sermons preached on several occasions by William Bates.Sermons preach'd on several occasions by William Bates.

William Bates 1625–1699London: printed by J.D. for Jonathan Robinson, 1693

[3], 388 p. · 55k words · Wing B1122 · ESTC R27748

Title page: Duke University Libraries copy, digitized by the Internet Archive (opens the Internet Archive in a new tab)

Sermon 2

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.

[ Earlier:85–100 of 396

:85p. 88–89¶3

(3.) Fly all tempting occasions of Sin. Joseph would not be alone with his Mistress. There is no Virtue so confirmed, and in that degree of Eminence, but if one be frequently engaged in vicious Society, 'tis in danger of being eclipsed and controlled by the opposite Vice. If the Ermines will associate with the Swine, they must lie in the Mire: if the Sheep with Wolves, they must learn to bite and devour: if Doves with Vultures, they must learn to live on the Prey. Our surest Guard is to keep at a distance from all engaging ⟨p. 89⟩Snares. He that from Carelessness or Confidence ventures into Temptations, makes himself an easy Prey to the Tempter.

(3.) Fly all tempting occasions of Sin. Joseph would not be alone with his Mistress. There is no Vertue so confirmed, and in that degree of Eminence, but if one be frequently ingaged in vicious Society, 'tis in danger of being eclips'd and controul'd by the opposite Vice. If the Ermins will associate with the Swine, they must lie in the Mire: if the Sheep with Wolves, they must learn to bite and devour: if Doves with Vultures, they must learn to live on the Prey. Our surest Guard is to keep at a distance from all engaging ⟨p. 89⟩Snares. He that from Carelesness or Confidence ventures into Temptations, makes himself an easy Prey to the Tempter.

:86p. 89

And let us daily pray for the Divine Assistance to keep us from the Evil of the World; without which all our Resolutions will be as ineffectual as Ropes of Sand, to bind us to our Duty.

:87p. 89–91¶5

5. The Consideration of the Evil of Sin is a powerful Motive to our solemn and speedy Repentance. The remembrance of our Original and Actual Sins, will convince us, that we are born for Repentance. There are innumerable silent Sins, that are unobserved, and do not alarm the Conscience: and although a true Saint will neither hide any Sin, nor suffer Sin to hide it self in his Breast, yet the most holy Men in the World, have great reason with the Psalmist, to say with melting Affections, Who can understand

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SERMON III.