A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

God bids the Prophet look upon this Sight (as indeed it is worthy of a Christian Consideration) Jer. 7.17, 18. Seest thou what they do in the Cities of Judah, and in the Streets of Jerusalem? The Children gather Wood, and the Fathers kindle the Fire, and the Women kneed the Dough to make Cakes to the Queen of Heaven, and to pour out Drink-Offerings unto other Gods. What a busy Diligence is here to promote their false Worship? Fathers, Children, Husbands, Wives, they all put their helping Hands to the Work, and find some Employment or other. Where will you have a Family so earnest and zealous to set up the Work of God? O how can you look upon such a Spectacle as this without Shame, that a Lust should have more power with them, than the Love of God with you? Is it not a shame that Amnon can be sick for Tamar, and yet you cannot be sick for Christ, as the Spouse was for her Beloved? You have high Motives, nobler Employment; your Work is the Perfection of the Creature; the noblest Faculties are exercised in the noblest way of Operation: your Rewards are more excellent, and you have greater Advantages and Helps. Shall they take more pains to undo their Souls, than you do to save your Souls? We read in Ecclesiastical Story, when Pambus saw a Harlot curiously dressed, he wept; partly to see one take so much Pains for her own eternal Ruin; and partly because he had not been so careful to please Christ, and to dress up his Soul for Christ, as she was to please her wanton Lover. Christians! whenever you are cast upon such a Sight or Spectacle; when you come by a Shop, and see Men labour and toiling out their Hearts, and all this for temporal Gain; doth it not make you blush and be ashamed, that you are so negligent and careless in the Work of God?

God bids the Prophet look upon this Sight (as indeed it is worthy of a Christian Consideration) Ier. 7.17, 18. Seest thou what they do in the Cities of Judah, and in the Streets of Jerusalem? The Children gather Wood, and the Fathers kindle the Fire, and the Women kneed the Dough to make Cakes to the Queen of Heaven, and to pour out Drink-Offerings unto other Gods. What a busy Diligence is here to promote their false Worship? Fathers, Children, Husbands, Wives, they all put their helping Hands to the Work, and find some Imployment or other. Where will you have a Family so earnest and zealous to set up the Work of God? O how can you look upon such a Spectacle as this without Shame, that a Lust should have more power with them, than the Love of God with you? Is it not a shame that Amnon can be sick for Tamar, and yet you cannot be sick for Christ, as the Spouse was for her Beloved? You have high Motives, nobler Employment; your Work is the Perfection of the Creature; the noblest Faculties are exercised in the noblest way of Operation: your Rewards are more excellent, and you have greater Advantages and Helps. Shall they take more pains to undo their Souls, than you do to save your Souls? We read in Ecclesiastical Story, when Pambus saw a Harlot curiously dress'd, he wept; partly to see one take so much Pains for her own eternal Ruine; and partly because he had not been so careful to please Christ, and to dress up his Soul for Christ, as she was to please her wanton Lover. Christians! whenever you are cast upon such a Sight or Spectacle; when you come by a Shop, and see Men labour and toiling out their Hearts, and all this for temporal Gain; doth it not make you blush and be ashamed, that you are so negligent and careless in the Work of God?