Page:Collection of interesting anecdotes, religious, moral and entertaining, selected from several eminent authors.pdf/8

( 8 ) ſhould perſecute any for being more religious than myſelf.”

29. The great Mr. Boyle had ſuch a veneration of God, and ſuch a ſenſe of his preſence, that he never mentioned the name of God, without a pauſe and viſible ſtop in his diſcourſe.

30. Faith empties the heart of ſin, and fills it up with grace.

31. A cockle-fiſh may as ſoon crowd the ocean into its narrow ſhell, as vain man ever comprehend the decrees of God.

32. Sometimes, by the force of truth, the outer door of the underſtanding is broken up ; while the inner door of the will remains faſt bolted.

33. Other ſinners ſerve the devil for pay ; but curſers and ſwearers are volunteers, who get nothing for their pains.

34. The duſt, or the finery, about your Bibles, is a witneſs now, and will at the laſt day, be a witneſs, of the enmity of your hearts againſt Chriſt as a prophet.

35. The natural man is a ſpiritual monſter. His heart is where his feet ſhould be; fixed upon the earth: his heels are lifted up againſt heaven, which his heart ſhould be ſet on. His face is towards hell; his back towards heaven. He loves what he ſhould hate, and hates what he ſhould love; joys in what he ought to mourn for, and mourns for what he ought to rejoice in; glories in his ſhame, and is aſham'd of his glory; abhors what he ſhould deſire, and deſires what he ſhould abhor.

36. Faith is the ſoul's going out of itſelf for all it wants.

37. As a whole neſt of venomous creatures muſt needs be more dreadful, than any few of them that come creeping forth, ſo the ſin of thy nature, that mother of abominations, muſt be worſe than any particular luſts, that appear ſtirring in thy heart and life.

38. Thy corrupt heart is like an ant's neſt, on which, while