A61386:325
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.
1BUT, lest any honest Christian should by his frequent distractions, be discouraged from his duties, or in his holy duties, I shall in the ninth place, prevent such a temptation, by laying down some Encouragements for those that groan under the burden of distractions. And here I assert two things: 1. That these distractions should not drive you from your duties: You have been thinking, perhaps, it were better my service were undone, than done so confusedly; and our false hearts are secretly prone to accept any occasion to lay down our ⟨p. 205⟩work, but believe not the Devils rotten Divinity: he takes on him to be tender, lest God's name be taken in vain, but this is to insinuate you the more; but in this sense, obedience is better than sacrifice; thy obedience to his command, is more pleasing to him, than thy torn sacrifice. And then it is a known case, that the omission of a duty will never fit one for a duty better. Luther's saying herein, was, the more I neglect, the more unfit I am. Indeed, some ground will mend my lying still, but that's better ground, than is in fallen man's heart. Ours is the ground that must be stirred, and manured, and quickened, and then some fruit will come. As one sin fits the heart for another. so one duty fits the soul for another. However, it's better to serve thy Master with a trembling hand, than not at all, and the Father takes well a well-intended work, though it be unwillingly marred in the making. 2. These distractions should not wholly discourage you in the performance of your duties. Despise you they must, discourage you they must not. Our good Master would not have us draw heavily in his service. It's prophesied, Psal. 138.5. They ⟨p. 206⟩shall sing in the ways of the Lord. This is a sweet hearing. God's work goes best on, when we sing at it. All the infirmities of a Christian laid together, yet should not discourage him in his duty. Si dixeris, doleo, sufficit. And for your support, I lay down these encouragements.