A journal of meditations for every day in the year gathered out of divers authors / written first in Latine by N.B. ; and newly translated into English by E.M. in ... 1669.

Of casting the Buyers and Sellers out of the Temple. Part 2.

COnsider 1. How Christ casting them out of the Temple, saith, Make not the House of my Father a house of Merchandise: And at another time, a little before his Passion, My house shall ••e called the House of Prayer, but you have made it a Den of Thieves: Whereby we are taught to observe due reverence, both interiour, and exteriout, in Gods Church: See whether you make it an House of Prayer, or not rather of Merchandise, thinking of your affairs, studies, or other trifles.

Consider 2. Your Soul is a Temple of God, according to that of the Apostle, You are the Tem∣ple of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you: Whence followeth that terrible sentence; But if any violate the Temple of God, God will destroy him. Consider therefore whether it be a House of Pray∣er, by frequent lifting up your mind to God, or ra∣ther of worldly negotiation, bending your thoughts upon earthly things, your own temporal concerns, meat, drink, and the like; wherefore cast out from thence sheep and oxen, that is, all bruitish, and earthly affections; even offering violence to your

self, by whips and cords; for, that the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent bear it away.

Consider 3. Christ brought not the scourge into the Temple, but made it of the cords he found there: So our Lord carrieth not a scourge about him, but makes one up of our sins, as of so many cords: The cords of sinners (saith David) have wrap∣ped me round about: wherefore cast forth all sin out of the Temple of your Soul, and you will leave him nothing to make a scourge of: Woe to you that draw iniquity in cords of vanity, and sin as the link of a Wayn; which those do, who add sin to sin, and the longer and more grievous the sin is, the more grievous also will be the scourge.

Notes

• Jo. 2.16.
• Mat. 21.13
• 1 Cor. 3.16, 17.
• Mat. 11.12
• Ps. 118.61
• Is. 5.18.
• Aug. To. 10 in Joan.