To pneuma ksopyrén, or Sparkes of the spirit, being, motives to sacred theorems, and divine meditations. / By a reverend father of the Church of England.

Sect. CV. A Caveat for the Demas's of our dayes.

THat Caveat of our Sa∣viour to his Disciples should be his Saints care,

namely, to endure to the end that we may be saved;* 1.1 and so to run that we may ob∣tain; and not to look back with Lots Wife; or to faint in our journey, or be wea∣ry of well doing. For to what purpose is it that the Marriner sayls prosperou∣sly, and obtaines a rich prize, if he sink or suffer Shipwrack before he ar∣rives at the haven of his own home. That a Chri∣stian be laden with many Craces; and obtain the rich pearle of the Gospel, and be fairly imbarked for hea∣ven, if afterwards he suffer Shipwrack of his faith? What availeth it a Captain to march hotly with Jehu, to fight manfully with Jo∣nathan, if he turn his back

with Ephraim before the end of the battaile? For us to encounter Satan, if we suffer him to s••yle and con∣quer us? If the Souldier shall fly forth of the field, revolt from his Captain, forsake his colours, run from his company, and turn to the enemy; he dis∣graceth his profession, dis∣ableth himself for the Tro∣phies of honour, and me∣riteth condigne punishment O Lord, we are thy soul∣diers, the Church is our field, Christ Jesus our Captain, thy word and Sacraments are our colours, the com∣munion of Saints our com∣pany: he that sh••ll fly forth of this field, revolt from this Captain, forsake these colours, run from this com∣pany,

and be found fighting under Satan's conduct; di∣shonoureth his christian profession, depriveth him∣self of the Crowne of glory, and incurreth the danger of God's heavy Judgement. For if we have given our names to Christ, served in his camp,* 1.2 taken pay in his wars, and yet play the car∣nall Apostates with Demas the Hereticall, with Hyme∣neus and Philetus, the scorn∣full with Julian the Emper∣our, the spightfull with A∣lexander the Copper-smith; their remaines small hope of receiving any comfort by the bloud of the Lambe, and Christ's eternall Sacri∣fic••; but rather extream ter∣rour in the expectation of his fearfull sentence; small

probability of being clean∣sed in his precious bloud, but rather a sore possibility of being devoured by a vio∣lent fire. For he onely that fights the good fight, fini∣shes his course,* 1.3 and keeps the faith, can expect the Crown of righteousness.

Sparke 105.

O most mighty and mer∣cifull God, which art able to give more than we can deserve or desire, for thy tender mercies sake keep me poor weakling and un∣constant waverer from the shame of backsliding, and defend me from the dread∣full sinne of Apostasie. Keep me by thy power that I fall not, restore me by thy

mercy when I am fallen, preserve me by thy grace that I never finally fall away; take not thy holy spirit from mee, but establish me with thy free spirit, that I may be set∣tled and confirmed in thy truth; that being effe∣ctually sanctified in thy Kingdome of Grace, I may be eternally blessed in the Kingdome of Glory: Through the merits and mercy of thy sweet Son and my sole Saviour Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mat. 10.22
• * 1.2

  2 Tim. 4 9. & 2.17.
• * 1.3

  2 Tim. 4.7.