Religion our true interest, or, Practical notes upon the third chapter of Malachi the…Religion our true interest, or, Practical notes upon the third chapter of Malachy the…

No, have you walked so often through the field of Scripture, yet gathered no ears of Corn? have not you matter enough in the Word to furnish you with discourse? Let me suggest a few things to you. When you ⟨p. 93⟩meet speak one to another of the Promises. No Honey so sweet, as that which drops from a Promise. The promises are the support of Faith, the springs of joy, the •aints Royal Charter. Are you Citizens of Heaven, and not speak of your Charter? Speak of the preciousness of Christ: he is Beauty and Love; he hath laid down his blood as the [Greek or Hebrew] or price of your Redemption. Have you a friend that hath redeemed you, and never speak of him? Speak one to another of Sin, what a deadly evil it is, how it hath infected your Virgin-nature, and turned it into a lesser Hell. Speak of the Beauty of Holiness, which is the Souls Embroidery, filling it with such Oriental splendour as makes God and Angels fall in love with it. The Graces are (as Damascene saith) the Sacred Characters and Impressions of the Divine nature^*. Speak one to another of your Souls: enquire whether they are in health. Speak about Death and Eternity: can you belong to Heaven and not speak of your Country? Speak one to another of the Times, wherein God is the Greatest sufferer: ⟨p. 94⟩let your hearts bleed for his dishonours. Thus you see here is matter enough for Holy conference.

No, have you walked so often through the field of Scripture, yet gathered no ears of Corn? have not you matter enough in the Word to furnish you with discourse? Let me suggest a few things to you. When you ⟨p. 93⟩meet speak one to another of the Promises. No Hony so sweet, as that which drops from a Promise. The promises are the support of Faith, the springs of joy, the •aints Royal Charter. Are you Citizens of Heaven, and not speak of your Charter? Speak of the preciousness of Christ: he is Beauty and Love; he hath laid down his blood as the 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 or price of your Redemption. Have you a friend that hath redeemed you, and never speak of him? Speak one to another of Sin, what a deadly evil it is, how it hath infected your Virgin-nature, and turned it into a lesser Hell. Speak of the Beauty of Holiness, which is the Souls Embroidery, filling it with such Oriental splendor as makes God and Angels fall in love with it. The Graces are (as Damascen saith) the Sacred Characters and Impressions of the Divine nature