Instruction to depend upon him for the preservation of our Use. senses, and members, who is the sole and only maker of them, and therefore also let them be continually employed in his services. We can no otherwise deal so safely for our selves, nor so thankfully with him, as to consecrate his own workmanship to his own glory. It were an unworthy part of us, and might worthily bereave us of the use of our life or dearest members, to bestow his gifts of this nature, or value in contempt, or neglect of him, upon his greatest enemies, sinfulness, and Satan. But may it not be done so closely, and with such secrecy, as he shall never know of it to take offence at it? Is it not possible to delight our selves with our unlawful actions, and serve our own turns by abusing of our tongues, and yet all be hidden from God? Understand ye unwise among the people: and ye stoles when 1will ye be wise? he that planted the ear, shall he not hear? or he that formed the eye, shall he not see? But that we may enjoy the right use of our senses our selves, and not have them infectious and noisome to our souls, and may also render to him due praise for them, actually by them, it shall be needful to have recourse to him, and seek his help, that as they were created by his hand, and are depraved by our corruptions, so he would again repair the same, and sanctify them to spiritual services. For otherwise a man quick sighted in earthly things, may be stark blind in heavenly, and he that hath a ready ear to listen unto mens speeches, may be utterly deaf at the Counsels of God. And that caused Moses to upbraid the carnal Israelites in the wilderness with such a palpable senselessness, saying unto them: Ye have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes, 2in the land of Egypt, unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land: the great temptations which thine eyes have seen, those great miracles, and wonders, yet the Lord hath not given you an hart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.
Instruction to depend vpon him for the preseruation of our Vse. senses, and members, who is the sole and only maker of them, and therefore also let them be continually imployed in his seruices. We can no otherwise deale so safely for our selues, nor so thankefully with him, as to consecrate his owne workemanship to his owne glory. It were an vnworthy part of vs, and might worthily bereaue vs of the vse of our life or dearest members, to bestow his gifts of this nature, or valew in contempt, or neglect of him, vpon his greatest enimies, sinnefulnesse, and Sathan. But may it not be done so closely, and with such secresie, as he shall neuer know of it to take offence at it? Is it not possible to delight our selues with our vnlawful actions, and serue our owne turnes by abusing of our tongues, and yet all be hidden from God? Vnderstand yee vnwise among the people: and yee stoles when 1will yee be wise? he that planted the eare, shall he not heare? or he that formed the eye, shall he not see? But that we may inioy the right vse of our senses our selues, and not haue them infectious and noysome to our soules, and may also render to him due praise for them, actually by them, it shall be needefull to haue recourse to him, and seeke his helpe, that as they were created by his hand, and are depraued by our corruptions, so he would againe repaire the same, and sanctifie them to spirituall seruices. For otherwise a man quicke sighted in earthly thinges, may be starke blinde in heauenly, and he that hath a ready eare to listen vnto mens speeches, may be vtterly deafe at the Counsailes of God. And that caused Moses to obraide the carnall Israelites in the wildernesse with such a palpable senselessenesse, saying vnto them: Yee haue seene all that the Lord did before your eyes, 2in the land of Aegipt, vnto Pharao, and vnto all his seruants, and vnto all his land: the great temptations which thine eyes haue seene, those great miracles, and wonders, yet the Lord hath not giuen you an hart to perceiue, and eyes to see, and eares to heare, vnto this day.
- 1Psal. 94. v. 8. 9.
- 2Deut. 29. v. 2. 3. 4
