A49252:550
The natural mans case stated, or, An exact map of the little world man…The naturall mans case stated, or, An exact map of the little world man…
The natural mans case stated, or, An exact map of the little world man considered in both his capacities, either in the state of nature or grace / as is laid down in XVII sermons by that late truly orthodox divine, Mr. Christopher Love ... ; whereunto is annexed The saints triumph over death, being his funeral sermon, by that painful labourer in the Lords vineyard, Mr. Tho. Manton ...The naturall mans case stated, or, An exact map of the little world man considered in both his capacities, either in the state of nature or grace / as is laid down in XVII sermons by that late truely orthodox divine, Mr. Christopher Love ... ; whereunto is annexed The saints triumph over death, being his funeral sermon, by that painful labourer in the Lords vineyard, Mr. Tho. Manton ...
London: printed by E. Cotes for George Eversden, 1652
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.
2. Another discovery is this, that man ⟨p. 249⟩is a practical Atheist, that does not make conscience of the performance of secret duties: he that never prays in secret, harbours this Atheistical thought in him, that God doth not hear him; it is very observable of the Scribes and Pharisees in Scripture, you shall never read of a secret fast they kept, nor of a private prayer they made, but they had public fasts a great many, they did fast twice a week, and pray in the corners of the streets, and give Alms, &c. but you never read of any private and secret duties they did perform; which did proceed merely from roots of Atheism in their hearts: and so this is an evidence of the Atheistical heart, if thou dost never make conscience of going to God in secret, and beg for grace and mercy from him; he is a very Atheist that lives in the neglect of secret duties; for those men that retain in their hearts, an apprehension of a Deity, they know that there is no time so well spent, as that which is employed in secret prayer to God. Cant. 2. 14. Oh my 1dove (says Christ) that art in the clefts of the rocks, in the secret places of the stairs: let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice, for sweet is they voice, and thy countenance is comely; Oh thou poor soul (says Christ) that dost pray in secret, and weep in secret corners, let me see thy face, and hear thy voice. A man that hath the apprehensions ⟨p. 250⟩of a God before him, he knows, that the Lord sees and takes notice of the breathings of his heart before him in secret: and therefore they are as much in the closet to pray in secret, and to pour out their souls before God in private, as they are in public. It is very observable that there were very few actions of Christ that were recorded by all the four Evangelists, and yet this of Christs praying alone, when no body was with him, is recorded by them all: 2whereas other things, if they be recorded by one, they are left out by another; but this is spoken of by all of them. Now the reason of it is this, because Christ would be an example to us, to teach us to be frequent in the performance of this duty: and therefore it is a sign of an Atheistical heart in any one that does not make conscience of pouring out his heart in secret prayer to God.