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…

2. It is necessary to comfort in the Duty. The service of God is a most sweet pot of ointment of a most refreshing odour, The gracious soul is refreshed therein, as in a bed of Spices. Distractions are the dead flies, Eccles. 10.1. that dropping into this sweet ointment, cause it to send forth a stinking savour, displeasing to God, and unpleasing to the soul. Where can the soul be better than with God? what sweeter company, than that which Angels keep; or pleasant employment than conversing in Heaven? till a sort of wandering thoughts arise, and like a black cloud ⟨p. 27⟩quite hide the sweet beams of that Sun of Righteousness from the soul, and then your comfort is gone. The sweetness of music consists in its harmony, when the strings are out of tune, or untuneably touched, it is but a harsh sound, there, is no music: wandering thoughts are like strings out of tune, there is no music in that Duty; the Holy Ghost goes away and likes it not; ^*and the soul likes it not, is weary of it, there is no sweetness in that Duty. It is a tried Maxim, The more seriousness, the more sweetness; the nearer to God, the warmer and merrier is the soul, which inward comfort is some reward to the heart of a Christian, when his particular suit is denied; so that IN keeping of Gods Commandments there is a great reward. The choicest of the Spirits sealing comforts, are bestowed in the lively service of God.

2. It is necessary to comfort in the Duty. The service of God is a most sweet pot of ointment of a most refreshing odour, The gracious soul is refreshed therein, as in a bed of Spices. Distractions are the dead flies, Eccles. 10.1. that dropping into this sweet ointment, cause it to send forth a stinking savour, displeasing to God, and unpleasing to the soul. Where can the soul be better than with God? what sweeter company, than that which Angels keep; or pleasant imployment than conversing in Heaven? till a sort of wandring thoughts arise, and like a black cloud ⟨p. 27⟩quite hide the sweet beams of that Sun of Righteousness from the soul, and then your comfort is gone. The sweetness of musick consists in its harmony, when the strings are out of tune, or untuneably toucht, it is but a harsh sound, there, is no musick: wandring thoughts are like strings out of tune, there is no musick in that Duty; the Holy Ghost goes away and likes it not;