Thefinfulnef,fe of Slime. Of thy duties ? How little growth in ftrength ? How lit - tle improvement in fpirituall knowledge or experience ? How much wearineffe and revolting of heart ; How evill and unprofitable bath thy life beene in comparifon of thofe worthies whom thou fhouldeti have followed, and inproportion to thole meanes of Grace which thou haft had ? Fifthly, in thy progrefre, How often.haff thou hum- bled ? How many notorious and vifible finnes, even in great Chara6iers, have oftentimes Rained, it not thy pro feflion by a publike fcandall, yet thy Joule in private by a confciouf effe unto them ? And how thinke wee did David" Murther and Adultery pull downe the pride of his heart when ever it offered to rife in any Heavenly 'aEtion ? Secondly, in this point it -will bee needfull to give di- reetion in a cafe of daily occurrence, what a man fhould doe when he findes his naturali impotency dead him, in fpirituall workes ? when he findes fiupiditie, benumb'd- neffe of the fpirit, and many defehs, which he cannot over-rule nor fubdue in Go Ds fervice ; whether it were not better to forbeare the very duty, than to grieve the fpirit with undue performances ? To this I anfwer Firfi, omit not the dutie, though thou art never fo ill af- tfeaed, for that is to give place to the Devil!, and to yeeld to the flefh, and the Devill is pleated either way : when by his allurements he can perfwade us to evill, and when by difcomforts hee can difcourage us frpm goods Be- fides, by doing fpirituall things a man growes more fpi- rituall, and gathers firength even in the anion ; as water which comes hard at firtt, Bowes very plentifully after it bath beene a little drawne. . They that begin in teares may end in joy : David began to pray with no comfort, much fore vexation and weakeneffe of fpirit under the fenfe of Gods heavie ditpleafure, and yet her ends with much faith, peace. and triumph, The Lord bath heard my 243
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=