3 There is a great corruption in our natures, which makes us most dull when we have most means. This ariseth either because when we have the public means more plentifully,1 we use the private more sparingly: or because we do not so much esteem of the2 means, ordinarily administered, as we do when they are less familiar unto us: or if the3 Lord seeing us too immoderately desire the place where we are, denieth us the benefits and4 fruits of the place to correct our desire: or for that we promised to our selves too large a hope of freedom from many evils, by the means of the word; therefore it pleaseth the Lord to prove unto us, that they are nothing unto us without the blessing of his holy spirit.5 Or this may arise from the temptation of Satan, who because he would make us discontent6 with our present estate and calling, and to hunt after new; therefore he showeth us all the inconveniences of the place present, and hides all the profits; and shows us all the profits of the place where we have been, or shall be, and hides all the inconveniences. Or because when we were the best in a whole town, and saw nothing in others but corruption,7 we pleased our selves, and provoked our selves more to good things; and being among many good men, we make not so much of our goodness, and grow something secure,8 and trust too much in the goodness of the place & persons. Or in that we like of our selves well, when we are teaching and instructing others, and are more impatient of silence9 in our selves, and to be instructed of others. Or because we would still be getting praise by bringing out, but we are loth to store up treasures both new and old for time to10 come, when as yet there is a time of both. Or we more see this, because the last complaint seemeth the greatest, though indeed we have suffered as evil; even as a man thinketh his sickness present to be sorer than any sickness past. The only remedy against this dullness is, continually by prayer, and by using the means to strive against it.
3 There is a great corruption in our natures, which makes vs most dull when we haue most meanes. This ariseth either because when we haue the publike meanes more plentifully,1 we vse the priuate more sparingly: or because we doe not so much esteeme of the2 meanes, ordinarily administred, as we doe when they are lesse familiar vnto vs: or if the3 Lord seeing vs too immoderatly desire the place where we are, denieth vs the benefits and4 fruites of the place to correct our desire: or for that we promised to our selues too large a hope of freedome from many euils, by the meanes of the word; therefore it pleaseth the Lord to proue vnto vs, that they are nothing vnto vs without the blessing of his holy spirit.5 Or this may arise from the temptation of Sathan, who because he would make vs discontent6 with our present estate and calling, and to hunt after new; therefore he sheweth vs all the inconueniences of the place present, and hides all the profits; and shewes vs all the profits of the place where we haue beene, or shall be, and hides all the inconueniences. Or because when we were the best in a whole towne, and saw nothing in others but corruption,7 we pleased our selues, and prouoked our selues more to good things; and being among many good men, we make not so much of our goodnes, and grow something secure,8 and trust too much in the goodnesse of the place & persons. Or in that we like of our selues well, when we are teaching and instructing others, and are more impatient of silence9 in our selues, and to be instructed of others. Or because we would still be getting praise by bringing out, but we are loth to store vp treasures both new and old for time to10 come, when as yet there is a time of both. Or we more see this, because the last complaint seemeth the greatest, though indeed we haue suffered as euill; euen as a man thinketh his sicknes present to be sorer than any sicknes past. The onely remedie against this dulnes is, continually by prayer, and by vsing the meanes to striue against it.
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