A61386:297
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.
In hearing of God's Word, let the eye be chained to the Preacher with the greatest attention and reverence; as if you saw an Angel in the Pulpit, or Christ himself. And beware, lest your needless complements to men, be interpreted a neglect to God. 'Tis small manners to be complementing the Kings Servants in his Presence chamber, till you have done your homage to the King. Do your work with God, 'tis time enough to perform your civilities to men, when that is done. Look then to God, from him is thy expectation, with him is thy business, Luk. 4.20. The eyes of all them that were in the Synagogue• were FASTENED on him. And therein also, let your ears be only open Heaven-ward. Lord! to deal with thee I am come, and thou shalt have all, my soul, and body, and all.
And here I cannot but digress a little, but it is to cure a more criminal digression, which is that frequent Abuse of Whispering and talking to one another, in the service of God, which except it be upon such instant indispensable business, as cannot be ordered before or after the Ordinance, is a sin in an high degree, and that
1. Because it brings a guilt and distraction ⟨p. 187⟩upon two at once. If a vain thought there be so evil, as you have heard, how criminal then is this, that involves you both, yea perhaps occasions a distraction to twenty more, that observe you? And the guilt of all their vain thoughts on that occasion will be charged on your account, according to the equity of that Law, Exod. 21.23.