422 DIRECTIONS AND PERSUASIONS I have often spoken of this heretofore; but because I apprehend it to be a point of exceeding great concernment, I shall be longer on it again than on the rest. The greatest matters in the world will not work much upon him that will not think on them. Consi- deration opens the ears that are stopt, and the heart that was shut up; it, sets the powers of the soul to work, and awakeneth it from the sleep of incogitancÿ and security. The thoughts are the first actings of the soul, that set a -work the rest. Thinking on the matters that must make us wise, and do the work of God on the heart, is that which lieth on us to do in order to our conversion. By con- sideration a sinner makes use of the truth, which be- fore lay by, and therefore could do nothing. By consideration he taketh in the medicine to his soul, which before stood by, and could not work. By consideration a than makes use of his reason, which before was laid asleep, and therefore could not do his work. When the master is from home, the scho- lars will be at play. When the coachman is asleep, the horses may miss the way, and possibly break his neck and their own. If the ploughman go his way, the oxen will stand still, or make but had un- handsome work.So when reason, laid asleep, is out of the way, what may not the appetite do ? and what may not the passions do ? and what may not tempta- tions do with the soul ? A wise man, when he is asleep, bath as little use of his wisdom as a fool. A learned man, when he is asleep, can hardly dispute with an unlearned man that is awake. A strong man that is ever so skilful at his weapons, is scarce able, in his sleep, to deal with the weakest child that is awake. Why, all the power of your soul are as it were asleep, till consideration awake there, and set them at work. And what the better are you for be- ing men, and having reason, if you have not the use of your reason when you need it ? As men are inconsi- derate because they are wicked,. so they are the more
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