The churches glory, or, The becoming ornament being a seasonable word, tending to the provoking, encouraging, and perfecting of holiness in believers ... : whereunto is added, A glasse for the unconverted ... as also, several articles of faith briefly laid down for the further establishment and confirming of the faithful / by Josias Bonham, sen. of Byfield in Northamptonshire.

Motive the Sixth.

A sixth Motive and encouragement to a careful improvement of the aforesaid means, against the aforesaid distempers, may arise from the consideration of our sad estate, whilst we are slaves unto those corrupt Lusts, what heart so hard, as will not a little commiserate the condition of such as are in captivity and slavery under the dominion of the Turks? What pover∣ty and want, what hard service and cruel bondage such under-goe, we have had re∣lated to us? O what would such poor slaves give, if they had it to be freed from such a bondage, that they might en∣joy the liberty and plenty of their Fa∣thers

house! O how welcome would a Ransom be to such! how readily would they accept thereof?

And shall not we consider and commi∣serate the sad estate of our selves, whilst we are in bondage and slavery under the dominion of sin, the Horseleach and her Brood; Corrupt Lusts which war against the soul, 1 Pet. 2.11. and force the Crea∣ture to run and go at every beck; wait all opportunities, and improve all means to satisfie the greedy appetites of carnal desire, and unsanctified love to self and the world, whilst the poor soul is faint to feed on Husks, and pine and starve for want of food, and bread enough in the Fathers house; and a Ransom given for liberty thereunto, and invitations to par∣take thereof; and acceptation promised upon return; and the poor carnal is so blinded with the God of this world, and so enslaved to its Lusts through that con∣tract between the affections, and self and the world; That although there be a price put in the hand to get Wisdom (as Solomon saith) yet he hath no heart thereunto.