A treatise of faith divided into two parts. The first showing the nature, the…A treatise of faith diuided into two parts. The first shewing the nature, the…

First, Let him heartily bewail his proneness to sin, aptness to decline, inability to withstand any one temptation, or set one step forward in the way to Heaven. Woe is me, poor wretch, blind, lame, crooked, sick, impotent, unstable as the running water: How was I bewitched with self-confidence and conceit of spiritual fullness? I have presumed upon my wisdom, as sufficient to direct my ways, and leaned upon my strength, as able to make resistance against temptations, stand upon mine own bottom, and go through stitch with my resolutions: But now I find my wisdom is ignorance, vanity and folly, my strength weakness: I am unable to think one good thought, set one step forward towards Heaven, keep my standing, or withstand the least assault. In pain I am pettish, under crosses faint, heartless, discontent, ready to fly at the sound of persecution, secure in prosperity, puffed up with comforts, apt to be led away with worldly allurements. My spiritual taste is distempered with carnal vanities, which relish sweeter to me then the mercies of God in Christ; mine appetite to the Word and food of life is abated, my zeal decayed, mine affections dull to good, my devotion cooled, my conscience benumbed. I hear, but feed not upon the Word, my Prayers are cold, heartless, roving; in earthly employments I keep no moderation, daily weaknesses and lesser sins go down without reluctation: the motions of the spirit quickly die, the motions of the flesh live and get strength, admonition ⟨p. 296⟩is fruitless, reproof unwelcome in my course I am ready to stumble at every rub, linger after every bait laid by Satan or the world to catch me, and totter upon the smallest tentation. Every day I have greater experience of my weakness then other; soon distempered and put out of frame, if by any means for a little time my heart be brought into some better order, I am forgetful of my purposes, negligent of the opportunities to get good, distracted with lawful business and weary of the wo•kes of my calling, perplexed at the troubles I meet w•th, giving way to forwardness, not looking up to God: unthankful for mercies, trifling out the the time in foolish surmises, vain ploddings, and unprofitable speeches.

First, Let him heartily bewaile his pronenesse to sinne, aptnesse to decline, inabilitie to withstand any one temptation, or set one step forward in the way to Heauen. Woe is me, poore wretch, blind, lame, crooked, sicke, impotent, vnstable as the running water: How was I bewitched with selfe-confidence and conceit of spirituall fulnesse? I haue presumed vpon my wisdome, as sufficient to direct my wayes, and leaned vpon my strength, as able to make resistance against temptations, stand vpon mine owne bottome, and goe through stich with my resolutions: But now I finde my wisedome is ignorance, vanitie and folly, my strength weaknesse: I am vnable to thinke one good thought, set one step forward towards Heauen, keepe my standing, or withstand the least assault. In paine I am pettish, vnder crosses faint, heartlesse, discontent, readie to flie at the sound of persecution, secure in prosperitie, puffed vp with comforts, apt to bee led away with worldly allurements. My spirituall taste is distempered with carnall vanities, which rellish sweeter to me then the mercies of God in Christ; mine appetite to the Word and food of life is abated, my zeale decayed, mine affections dull to good, my deuotion cooled, my conscience benummed. I heare, but feed not vpon the Word, my Prayers are cold, heartlesse, rouing; in earthly imployments I keepe no moderation, daily weaknesses and lesser sinnes goe downe without reluctation: the motions of the spirit quickly die, the motions of the flesh liue and get strength, admonition