A61386:301
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.
3. This hath more offence in it. An offence to the Preacher, that hath taken much pains to prepare that, which you will not take pains to hear, or else imply, it is not worth the hearing. An offence to the Congregation that sees it, who must needs, if they fear God• be troubled at so public a fault. An offence to the Angels, that, while they stoop down to look into the mysteries opened in the Church, see you sleight them so notoriously: An offence to your own souls, that perhaps in that moment miss of what would most have done them good. O therefore, Christian Reader! mourn for thy misbehaviour this way, and amend it for time to come, lest God refuse to treat with thee, that triflest thus in thy treating with him. Remember, it's work enough for a poor man, to converse with a great God. He needs no other business, to fill his hands.
3. This hath more offence in it. An offence to the Preacher, that hath taken much pains to prepare that, which you will not take pains to hear, or else imply, it is not worth the hearing. An offence to the Congregation that sees it, who must needs, if they fear God• be troubled at so publick a fault. An offence to the Angels, that, while they stoop down to look into the mysteries opened in the Church, see you sleight them so notoriously: An offence to your own souls, that perhaps in that moment miss of what would most have done them good. O therefore, Christian Reader! mourn for thy misbehaviour this way, and amend it for time to come, lest God refuse to treat with thee, that triflest thus in thy treating with him. Remember, it's work enough for a poor man, to converse with a great God. He needs no other business, to fill his hands.
And then in Meditation you must also compose your senses. There shut your eye, and ear, and sequester your self wholly to the contemplation of things invisible. ⟨p. 189⟩The least sight or sound will here distract: Any thing, yea nothing will throw us off the hinges in this duty; indeed it is said of Isaac,