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

2. Running to the City of Refuge, implieth avoiding all By-ways. A Soul that is rightly affected, cannot be satisfied with any other thing: Another place would not secure the Man, nothing but the City of Refuge. Worldly things to a wounded Conscience are as unsavoury as the White of an Egg. Surely the Wound is not deep enough, when it can be healed with other Plasters; and that Thirst is not urgent, which we can quench at the next Ditch; I mean, when the Comforts of the Creature can satisfy the Soul, our Thirst was not very deep. Many have a Trouble upon them, but they quench it in Mirth and carnal Company, and by little and little wear out all Feelings of Conscience. A Man that ran to a City of Refuge, would not turn aside, but went a strait way thither, another Town could not secure him: So all things else are but Dung and Dross in comparison of being found in Christ, Phil. 3.8, 9. There are two things which are apt to keep us from Christ when we begin to be touched with any sight of Sin, or God's Wrath pursuing us; either the Delights of the World, or some formal Duties. When a Man begins to be in want with the Prodigal, he first feeds upon Husks with the Swine, takes up with Worldly Delights, which serve to benum and stupefy the Conscience. Or, if that will not do, then some outward formal Duty. That Trouble never went very deep, that can be cured with any thing on this side Christ.

2. Running to the City of Refuge, implieth avoiding all By-ways. A Soul that is rightly affected, cannot be satisfied with any other thing: Another place would not secure the Man, nothing but the City of Refuge. Worldly things to a wounded Conscience are as unsavoury as the White of an Egg. Surely the Wound is not deep enough, when it can be healed with other Plaisters; and that Thirst is not urgent, which we can quench at the next Ditch; I mean, when the Comforts of the Creature can satisfy the Soul, our Thirst was not very deep. Many have a Trouble upon them, but they quench it in Mirth and carnal Company, and by little and little wear out all Feelings of Conscience. A Man that ran to a City of Refuge, would not turn aside, but went a strait way thither, another Town could not secure him: So all things else are but Dung and Dross in comparison of being found in Christ, Phil. 3.8, 9. There are two things which are apt to keep us from Christ when we begin to be touched with any sight of Sin, or God's Wrath pursuing us; either the Delights of the World, or some formal Duties. When a Man begins to be in want with the Prodigal, he first feeds upon Husks with the Swine, takes up with Worldly Delights, which serve to benum and stupify the Conscience. Or, if that will not do, then some outward formal Duty. That Trouble never went very deep, that can be cured with any thing on this side Christ.