A61386:180
An antidote against distractions, or, An endeavour to serve the church, in the daily…An antidote against distractions, or, An indeavour to serve the church, in the daily…
An antidote against distractions, or, An endeavour to serve the church, in the daily case of wanderings in the worship of God by Richard Steele M.A. and minister of the Gospel.An antidote against distractions, or, An indeavour to serve the church, in the daily case of wandrings in the worship of God by Richard Steele M.A. and minister of the Gospel.
London: printed for Elizabeth Calvert, 1667
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.
1. Consideration of the ineffectualness of a frozen duty, which seldom reacheth the Heart of God when it reacheth not our own*. That the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent only take it by force; that such duties neither please God, nor our selves, they mock God, and rather deceive than delight us. That some Prayer or Sermon must be thy last, and perhaps this present may be it. That it is an irrational thing, to bring a dead Sacrifice to a living God. That one serious and lively duty does you more good, and leaves a more sweet, blessed and active frame upon the soul, than an hundred ⟨p. 85⟩heartless services; and, in short, That the Majesty, whom you serve, loves Adverbs*, and narrowly observes the How's and Why's of Sacred Worship: That it is not a vain thing that you are about, for it is your life. Deut. 32.47.
- *Tu non audi• orationem tuam, & Dominum vis audire precem tuam? Chrys. de Nat Dom. Hom. 17.
- *Nihil enim, nihil inquam, precatione ignitâ & sincerâ validius est. Chrys. ad Phil.
2. Practice is the other remedy. To cure this luke-warmness in God's service, frequent those Lights that are burning as well as shining. Let's go to Dedham (said the Godly in that time) to fetch fire, when famous M. Rogers was there. If you cannot hear a warming Divine, then read them, and be sure to have some Books for the rousing and •eating of your heart, as others for clearing and instructing your judgment, unless the work of Sanctification be perfect already in your heart and affections, while it remains imperfect in your mind and judgment. Associate also with zealous Christians, borrow some of their heat, and lend them some of your light; and be not ashamed to talk of God, Heaven and a Soul when you are together; we lose the benefit of mens graces, for want of broaching those blessed Vessels of grace you converse with. Especially read the Scripture, which will inflame thee, and