2. We shall rest from all our temptations which we now undergo from the world and the flesh, as well as Satan: and that is a number inexpressible. O the hourly dangers that we here walk in! Every sense is a snare; every member a snare; every creature a snare; every mercy a snare; and every duty a snare to us. We can scarce open our eyes but we are in danger: if we behold them above us, we are in danger of envy: if we see sumptuous buildings, pleasant habitations, honour and riches, we are in danger to be drawn away with covetous desires: if the rags and beggary of others, we are in danger of self-applauding thoughts or unmercifulness: if we see beauty, it is a bait to lust; if deformity, to loathing and disdain. We can scarcely hear a word spoken, but contains to us matter of temptation. How soon do slanderous reports, vain jests, or wanton speeches creep into the heart? How strong and prevalent a temptation is our appetite? And how constant and strong a watch doth it require? Have we comeliness and beauty? what fuel for pride! Are we deformed? what an occasion of repining! Have we strength of reason and learning? O how hard is it not to be puffed up! to ⟨p. 62⟩hunt after applause? to despise our brethren? Are we unlearned, of shallow heads, and slender parts? How apt then to despise what we have not? And to undervalue that which we do not know? And to err with confidence, because of our ignorance? And if conceitedness and pride do but strike in, to become a zealous enemy to truth, and a leading troubler of the church's peace, under pretences of truth? Are we men of eminency and authority? How strong is our temptation to slight our brethren? to abuse our trust? to seek ourselves? to stand upon our honour and privileges? to forget ourselves, our poor brethren, and the public good? how hard to devote our power to his glory, from whom we have received it? how prone to make our wills our law? Are we inferiors? how prone to grudge at others pre-eminence? and to bring their actions to the bar of our judgment? Are we rich, and not too much exalted? Are we poor, and not discontented? Do we set upon duties? they are snares too: either we are stupid and lazy, or rest on them, and turn from Christ. In a word, not one word that falls from the mouth of a minister and christian, but is a snare; nor a place we come into;
2. We shall rest from all our temptatio•s which we now undergo from the world and the flesh, as well as Satan: and that is a number inexpressible. O the hourly dangers that we here walk in! Every sense is a snare; every member a snare; every creature a snare; every mercy a snare; and every duty a snare to us. We can scarce open our eyes but we are in danger: if we behold them above us, we are in danger of envy: if we see sumptuous buildings, pleasant habitations, honour and riches, we are in danger to be drawn away with covetous desires: if the rags and beggary of others, we are in danger of self-applauding thoughts or unmercifulness: if we see beauty, it is a bait to lust; if deformity, to loathing and disdain. We can scarcely hear a word spoken, but contains to us matter of temptation. How soon do slanderous reports, vain jests, or wanton speeches creep into the heart? How strong and prevalent a temptation is our appetite? And how constant and strong a watch doth it require? Have we comeliness and beauty? what fuel for pride! Are we deformed? what an occasion of repining! Have we strength of reason and learning? O how hard is it not to be puffed up! to ⟨p. 62⟩hunt after applause? to despise our brethren? Are we unlearned, of shallow heads, and slender parts? How apt then to despise what we have not? And to undervalue that which we do not know? And to err with confidence, because of our ignorance? And if conceitedness and pride do but strike in, to become a zealous enemy to truth, and a leading troubler of the church's peace, under pretences of truth? Are we men of eminency and authority? How strong is our temptation to slight our brethren? to abuse our trust? to seek ourselves? to stand upon our honour and privileges? to forget ourselves, our poor brethren, and the public good? how hard to devote our power to his glory, from whom we have received it? how prone to make our wills our law? Are we inferiors? how prone to grudge at others pre-eminence? and to bring their actions to the bar of our judgment? Are we rich, and not too much exalted? Are we poor, and not discontented? Do we set upon duties? they are snares too: either we are stupid and lazy, or rest on them, and turn from Christ. In a word, not one word that falls from the mouth of a minister and christian, but is a snare; nor a place we come into;
