CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

¹Secondly, As there is the world infecting, so there is the world tempting and seducing even by lawful comforts; It infects by sin, it seduceth by lawful good things, and herein is great danger to godly men, their Houses, Wives, Children, their health, wealth, and whatsoever is a worldly good, These are apt to ensnare and seduce our hearts, So that the love, care, and joy about these things shuts out that love to God, 1 Cor. 7. The Apostle tells us, that those who marry must be as if they married not, those that buy as if they bought not, and those that use the world as not abusing it; So that there is using of this world and abusing it; using it, when we make all these comfortable things we enjoy instrumental to Gods glory and our good, but abusing it when we do use them too much, So abuti the Latin word is used sometimes, when the Waters overflow the Banks; But who can stand under this Truth? Who can endure this glorious Light? Is not the world a tempting world though not an afflicting? Thou dost not communicate with the wickedness and gross impieties the world lieth in, but thy heart is over-charged and surfeited with affections to lawful things, Thou over-lovest, over-grievest, Thy trade is a snare ⟨p. 279⟩to thee, Thy Wife, thy Children are snares to thee, they draw thee into this and that immoderate affection; One of the Ancients saw in a Vision, that the world was full of Snares, Thus indeed it is, Thou canst not be at home or abroad, Thou canst not be in this or that condition but there is a Snare; Even as the Bird cannot light upon the ground but the Fowler hath set a snare for her every where; Oh then how well is it that not only we pray but Christ hath prayed to keep us from the evil of all these things; To have riches and sin not, To have health and sin not, To have mercies and offend not; Know then that Egypt was not fuller of Frogs and Lice in every chamber, in every hole, then rhe world is of Temptation to sin: There is no mercy, no relation, no condition, but it will draw out a world of sin, if thou watch not, every Creature is a kind of a devil, Christ warrants that expression when he said to Peter, Get thee behind me Satan, Mat. 16.23. When he tempted him from his duty; Thou hast cause sometimes to say to the best comfort thou hast in the world, Get thee behind me Satan, Thou savourest not the things of God.