A61386:212
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.
1The eighth cause of distractions in holy duties is*, A beloved sin. When the soul hath espoused some bosom lust, the thoughts (be you never so busy) will be warping towards it, though God himself look on. Jer. 4.14. O Jerusalem, wash thy heart from wickedness,— how long shall vain thoughts lodge within thee? When wickedness is in the heart, vain thoughts will be in thy duties; they will enter, yea, they will lodge within thee. A beloved sin is like a bias on the bowl, though you throw it out never so straight, yet the bias will draw it off that way, do what you can: so is a beloved sin unto the soul; aim you with utmost skill, yet ⟨p. 111⟩there is a secret load stone in it, that attracts the heart, and makes that prayer to end in hell, that began in heaven. Either sin and you must be at a distance, or God and you will. The soul that is in league with sin, dare not come at God, dare not look at him, dare not think on him; and what must that man think on in a duty, that dare not think seriously on God? As that penitent Father speaks in his confessions. An unmortified soul (like the husband of a scolding wife, had rather be any where than at home, and makes many a sad bargain abroad, because he hath no comfort at home with his wife; so such an heart) chooses to be thinking of any thing rather than God*; alas, matters are not straight between them, the poison of sin is in him, and he hugs that abominable thing which God hates; the Thief had rather go forty miles another way, than come near the Judge; God is an offended Judge to a wilful sinner, and he cares not for ever coming near him. Hence, Heb. 10.22. Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience. He that comes to God with a true upright honest heart, being sprinkled from an evil conscience, ⟨p. 112⟩may draw near to God in full assurance of faith; whereas guilt clouds, clogs and distracts the soul. So that you see both the guilt and power of a bosom sin, furnish us with too much cause of distractions.