A61386:83
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.
1. From the Precept of God, The wise and merciful God commands nothing, but he finds or makes it possible; He most truly says, Viam aut inveniam aut faciam. His commands are not snares but Rules, yea and Helps. When a Master commands, power and assistance wait not on his Commands; the Servants strength must perform the Masters will: but here are the commands of a Father, which when they outstrip his child's strength, are still accompanied with his own assistance; and the chair which the weak cannot bring in, he helps to fetch himself. Now behold the Divine Precept, 1 Sam. 12.24. Serve him in Truth with all your Heart. What truth is there, while we appear to serve the Lord, and indeed do not think upon him at all! Or how is that with all the Heart, while there is not half, nor any thereof many times! while we can pray, and plot, and think, and look, and begin our Devotion only at the end of the Duty. Our merciful Father will not impose an impossible Law upon us. *It may by accident become impossible, but it is not so in it self.
1. From the Precept of God, The wise and merciful God commands nothing, but he finds or makes it possible; He most truly sayes, Viam aut inveniam aut faciam. His commands are not snares but Rules, yea and Helps. When a Master commands, power and assistance waite not on his Commands; the Servants strength must perform the Masters will: but here are the commands of a Father, which when they outstrip his childs strength, are still accompanied with his own assistance; and the chair which the weak cannot bring in, he helps to fetch himself. Now behold the Divine Precept, 1 Sam. 12.24. Serve him in Truth with all your Heart. What truth is there, while we appear to serve the Lord, and indeed do not think upon him at all! Or how is that with all the Heart, while there is not half, nor any thereof many times! while we can pray, and plot, and think, and look, and begin our Devotion only at the end of the Duty. Our merciful Father will not impose an impossible Law upon us. *It may by accident become impossible, but it is not so in it self.