A61386:272
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.
SECT. I.
1AND if there be such great evil in these Distractions, and evil effects of them, what shall an upright heart do to be rid of them? I say, an upright heart, that inquires for means to use them, and craves a plaster not to look at, but to apply to his sore. And art thou thus resolved, that readest these lines? For us to spend our skill, and you your time, without full purpose to practise, is labour in vain: Nay, it will harden your hearts here, and increase ⟨p. 167⟩your condemnation hereafter. You will deceive your selves, and disappoint us, if you rest in hearing, without doing what you hear. Well then, are you resolved unfeignedly to take the Lord's counsel, for the destruction of your distractions? Stop a little and resolve — And now let me put that question to you, Jer. 30.21. Who is this that hath engaged his heart, to approach unto me, saith the Lord? Who is this? who will do it? who is thus well advised? that hath engaged, not only made a proffer, but engaged, and that his heart, to approach unto God, and where in this Congregation doth that man sit, or stand, that out of a deep sense of the hatefulness and hurtfulness of this sin, doth now engage his heart and soul to use all means against it, and that in the uprightness of his heart? The Lord your God sees who yields and cries out, through grace I am resolved. Well, on that condition I proceed to Direction.
1AND if there be such great evil in these Distractions, and evil effects of them, what shall an upright heart do to be rid of them? I say, an upright heart, that inquires for means to use them, and craves a plaister not to look at, but to apply to his sore. And art thou thus resolved, that readest these lines? For us to spend our skill, and you your time, without full purpose to practise, is labour in vain: Nay, it will harden your hearts here, and increase