A Religious life (which consisteth in exalting God in our affections, as our chiefest good; and in our actions, as our utmost end) is the life of God himself: How high, how noble, how excellent a life doth the blessed God live! Ephes. 4.18. Others live like Beasts, ⟨image 4⟩like Devils; true Christians only like Angels, like God, above these carnal comforts, and drossy delights; The way of life is above to the wise, Prov. 15 24. Atheists, like Hedge-Sparrows, settling here below, are easily taken in Satan's snares, and destroyed; when Saints, like Eagles, soaring aloft, are free both from his shot and lime-twigs, They are not terrified with the worlds affrightments, having Armour of proof. Those that are at the top of some high Tower, regard not the croaking of Frogs, nor hissing of Serpents below; like the Moon at the full, being fixed in Heaven, they can keep their course, though Dogs bark at them here on earth; 1They are not entangled in the Worlds allurements. The World indeed like a Serpent (some write of) when she cannot overtake the fleeing passengers, doth with her beautiful colours so amaze many, that they have no power to pass away, till she hath stung them; but they see her emptiness and vanity under all her painting and daubery: Besides, their eyes behold the glorious God in some measure, in his brightness and beauty, and are so dazzled therewith, that as those that look on the great Luminary of the world, in its Meridian splendour, they can see no glory ⟨image 4⟩in any thing besides. These poor Candles are slighted into disappearance, because the Sun himself hath arisen upon them. How quickly, how quietly did Abraham leave his Kindred and Country, when once the God of Glory appeared to him, Acts 7.2. Ah what pitiful fare is the Worlds most luscious food, to them that ever feasted with the Holy Jesus!
A Religious life (which consisteth in exalting God in our affections, as our chiefest good; and in our actions, as our utmost end) is the life of God himself: How high, how noble, how excellent a life doth the blessed God live! Ephes. 4.18. Others live like Beasts, ⟨image 4⟩like Devils; true Christians onely like Angels, like God, above these carnal comforts, and drossie delights; The way of life is above to the wise, Prov. 15 24. Atheists, like Hedge-Sparrows, settling here below, are easily taken in Satans snares, and destroyed; when Saints, like Eagles, soaring aloft, are free both from his shot and limetwigs, They are not terrified with the worlds affrightments, having Armor of proof. Those that are at the top of some high Tower, regard not the croaking of Frogs, nor hissing of Serpents below; like the Moon at the full, being fixed in Heaven, they can keep their course, though Dogs bark at them here on earth; 1They are not entangled in the Worlds allurements. The World indeed like a Serpent (some write of) when she cannot overtake the fleeing passengers, doth with her beautiful colours so amaze many, that they have no power to pass away, till she hath stung them; but they see her emptiness and vanity under all her painting and dawbery: Besides, their eyes behold the glorious God in some measure, in his brightness and beauty, and are so dazzled therewith, that as those that look on the great Luminary of the world, in its Meridian splendor, they can see no glory ⟨image 4⟩in any thing besides. These poor Candles are slighted into disappearance, because the Sun himself hath arisen upon them. How quickly, how quietly did Abraham leave his Kindred and Countrey, when once the God of Glory appeared to him, Acts 7.2. Ah what pitiful fare is the Worlds most luscious food, to them that ever feasted with the Holy Iesus!
- 1It is called [Greek or Hebrew] by the Grecians.It is called 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 by the Grecians.
