The Godly Man's Picture

2. From Satan; the Devil if he cannot hinder us from duty, •hee will hinder us in duty; when we come before the Lord, he is at our right hand to resist us, Zac. 3. 1. As when one is going to write, another stands at his elbow and jogs him, that he cannot write even; Satan will set vain objects before the fancy, to cause a diversion: the Devil doth not oppose formality but fervency; if he sees we set our selves in good earnest to seek God, he will be whispering things in our ears, that we can scarce mind what we are doing.

2. From Satan; the Devil if he cannot hinder us from duty, •hee will hinder us in duty; when we come before the Lord, he is at our right hand to resist us, Zac. 3. 1. As when one is going to write, another stands at his elbow and jogs him, that he cannot write even; Satan will set vain objects before the fancy, to cause a diversion: the Devil doth not oppose formality but fervency; if he sees we set our selves in good earnest to seek God, he will bee whispering things in our ears, that wee can scarce minde what wee are doing.

3 These impertinent thoughts arise from the world; these vermin are bred out of the earth, worldly business oft crowds into our duties, and while we are speaking to God, our hearts are talking with the world, Ezek. 33. 31. They sit before me as my people, but their heart goes after their covetousness. While we are hearing the word, or meditating, one worldly business or other commonly knocks at the door, and we are taken off the duty, while we are in the duty. 'Tis with us as with Abraham, when he was going to worship; the ⟨p. 233⟩fowls came down upon the sacrifice,