The difficulty of and the encouragements to a reformation a sermon preached before the…

1. Humble your souls for all your failings, and sins; one miscarriage may embitter many mercies. 2 Sam. 6. When David was with great pomp and cheerfulness bringing back the Ark, on a sudden God manifesteth his displeasure against Uzzah, not as some think, because he touched the Ark, seeing he was a Levite, but because it was put on a cart whereas it ought to be carried on mens shoulders; see what a sad obstacle was put in the way, David hereupon leaveth the Ark, and will carry it no further. Take the advantage therefore on these days, that all the sins which stand upon your account may be wiped off.

1. Humble your souls for all your failings, and sinnes; one miscarriage may imbitter many mercies. 2 Sam. 6. When David was with great pomp and chearfulnesse bringing back the Ark, on a sudden God manifesteth his displeasure against Uzzah, not as some think, because he toucht the Ark, seeing he was a Levite, but because it was put on a cart whereas it ought to be carried on mens shoulders; see what a sad obstacle was put in the way, David hereupon leaveth the Ark, and will carry it no further. Take the advantage therefore on these dayes, that all the sinnes which stand upon your account may be wiped off.

2. Labour for a spiritual heart, to be such as can delight in the spiritual worship of God, that can account spiritual things glorious things: men that are affected with outward glorious pomp in the service of God, it is a sign they have no spiritual things to rejoice in; the woman that hath no children to play with, she can delight in dogs, and other creatures? Hag. 2. there is a promise, that God would make the glory of the second Temple far above that of the former, and how was this true, but because of Christs spiritual preaching and presence there. I cannot but name a passage out of Isidore Pelusiota, lib. 2. epist. 246. because its so parallel with our times alate, and I would all were of his judgement: There was one Eusebius a Bishop, that did cast out and revile the good people, and in the mean time was very devout in building and adorning the Churches; now saith, Isidore, [Greek or Hebrew], the Church is one thing, the place of the Church another; the one consists of unblameable men, the other of wood and stone which if the Bishop did consider, he would not any longer overthrow the one, and adorn the other. And in the Apostles times, when the Church did abound with spiritual graces and holiness of life, they had no Temples; but in our time the Temples are more adorned then is fitting, [Greek or Hebrew], but the Church is scorned and mocked: If I might have my wish, I had rather be in those times wherein the Temples were not so beautified, but the Church splendent with heavenly graces, then in these our times, wherein the Temples are very glorious, but the Church empty of graces.