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…

II. IT follows hence,¹ That omissions of holy duties are extremely dangerous. ²Into these our fall is most frequent, against these our watch is most careless, after these our mourning is most easy: yet of these the number great, and the nature heinous. If according to that, Jer. 48.10. He be cursed that doth the work of the Lord negligently, what is he that doth not God's work, one way, or other? If a distraction in prayer may damn• O what may an Omission of prayer do! If the Scholar be whipped that looks off his book, what will become of him that plaid the truant! Do the consciences of God's children smite them for vain thoughts in a duty, how should yours wound you, that you have no thoughts of your duty! O you that omit secret prayer, reading the Scripture, meditation, and such like, will your negligence pass with God? He sees how seldom you sigh in secret; what strangers you are to prayers and tears: should one in some cases, refuse marriage for fear of distractions in God's service? and can you wholly omit his service without danger! ⟨p. 224⟩Are watchfulness and seriousness such dispensable things, that they are happy that have them, but one may do well without them? I tell you, he that chastens his careless children, will punish his graceless servants. He that makes them smart for their distractions, will make you tremble for your omissions. Undone duty will undo your souls. It's not enough that you have left off the language of swearing, unless you have learnt the language of praying. It's not enough that you have burnt your books of curious Arts, unless you love to read in the Book of Books, the Scripture. To be mortified to contemplative wickedness is well, but till you be vivified to contemplative holiness, it is not well enough. Do you must, or die you shall. You may come to Hell as certainly by not climbing up, as by running down; and lose Heaven by Naturality, as well as by Hostility. When you have read the 25th. chap. of Matthew, you shall tell me, whether wanting Oil may not as truly ruin you, as drinking poison; whether an unprofitable servant will not come to a sad reckoning, as well as a prodigal Son. Though you take not another's, yet you may be consumed for not giving your