SECT. III.
More Advantages accruing from the Belief and Meditation of this Truth.
FIrst, The man who deeply considers this, he will dwell at home much, he will much commune with his own heart, his work will be to rectifie his inwards much, to attend more to his heart-work. Alas, how many do you see spend all their time in disputes about Religion in quarrellings and strises about this opinion, and that opinion, whereas if he were deeply sensible of that wound upon him by original sinne, and how his whole soul is out of order, he would presently give over that way, he would say, I have greater work in hand, I have more necessary business to do? If a mans house were on fire, he would give over any disputes he had with his neighbour, and go presently to quench that: Thus the Pilot, when the ship is leaking, he would not attend to needless cavils, and in the mean time endanger his Ship; when thy vitals, yea thy very heart is diseased, thou standest disputing about the cure of thy fingers end: Oh how much better were it to be searching into your hearts, diving into the bottom thereof, then to spend thy time in useless disputes!
Again, If we did meditate on this more, We should not be so forward to judge and censure others, to be alwayes medling and talking of other mens infirmities, for we should find our selves had enough at home.
Yea further, When men accuse in, and falsly slander us, charging this sinne and that upon us: Now though we may bless God, and appeal to him, because of our innocency, yet we must withall confess, that if men knew all that stirreth in our hearts, as God doth, they would abhor us: Even Socrates, though an Heathen, when he was told, how men reviled him, What would they say (saith he) if they knew all by me? Certainly, there is no godly man, but loatheth himself more in Gods eyes, because of this depth of pollution within him, then all the world can despise him, he is not more abominable in their eyes, than he is in his own.
Lastly, Hereby a godly man is provoked to walk with more fear and trembling, be∣cause