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…

But now other wanderings are more premeditate, ⟨p. 18⟩& whereinto the soul falls more leisurely, and wallows therein either of choice, or without much interruption; & these have much more guilt and mischief in them.

But now other wandrings are more premeditate, ⟨p. 18⟩& whereinto the soul falls more leisurely, and wallows therein either of choice, or without much interruption; & these have much more guilt and mischief in them.

2. Some Distractions are Unwilling, quite praeter intentionem agentis^*; when the Heart like a good Archer aims directly at Communion with the Lord; aims at this, but Satan or his Corruptions jog him at the elbow, and make him to miss the mark. This indeed is a sad disappointment, for a Noble Soul to embrace the Dunghill instead of the Sun of Righteousness; for a man to lose those sweet words and minutes which might be had with God; it is a sad mischance indeed, but which is common with man, wherein if the Soul cry out as the forced Virgin, Deut. 22.27. it shall not be imputed to her, especially when there was neither previous provocation, nor subsequent consent. And this is the case of blasphemous thoughts, which are like Lightning cast into a Room, which carries horror, but springs from no cause thereof in the Room: So these thoughts come in upon thee, amaze and terrify, surprise thee against thy will: But be of good Comfort; neither leave off thy Duties, (thy Prayers will do thee ⟨p. 19⟩more good, than these can do thee harm) nor hasten from them to gratify Satan; for if God be not able to protect thee in the discharge of thy duty, it's time to think of another Master; but complain of Satan to God, parley not with them, but divert thy thoughts, and cry up that God the more, whom he tempts thee to blaspheme.