The Christians two chief lessons viz. self-denial, and self-trial. As also the privilege of…The Christians tvvo chiefe lessons viz. selfe-deniall, and selfe-tryall. As also the priviledge of…

2 When the understanding is informed, then also the Will must work to make up a sound Resolution: The Will must say Amen, I will have it; it ratifies that which reason said, and now Resolution comes according to the nature of Good, and so chosen by the Will, the best thing is most resolved upon▪ Now Christ is the best, therefore to be most resolved on. It is best to suffer for God, saith the Understanding, is it not▪ yes saith the Heart, it is better to have Christ in a Prison, or at the stake, then to be without him, say Heart, is it so Heart? then saith the Will, I will have it, come what will come to the contrary. The Understanding saith, the ways of God are peace and pleasantness, I will therefore have them; and when the Understanding saith this, the Will also saith the same; this makes up a Resolution, Ruth. 1.¹ Naomi reasons with Ruth to persuade her to return, now she went for God, and for Religion; and therefore ⟨p. 10⟩all things to the contrary, being propounded verse 18. She was steadfastly minded to go; God and misery was the best, and therefore she resolved here, this is Resolution. Now it is right, and the failing in any of these two breaks it; if a man say, I know and do not Will it, that is folly: If a man say, I will, and have no reason for it, it is obstinacy, and not a sound Resolution. And so when the Understanding is informed, and the Will is not settled on it, it is only Consultation; but the Will saith, I will not have it thus: A man may be good in Consultation, but not in Resolution: when the Drunkard is convinced, it is an evil to be drunk; and so the Usurer, but yet will be so still, and with the Adder turn the deaf ear, and will continue in it still, and the Adulterer is convinced of his sin, when he goes in to the Adulteress, he shall never return, here the Understanding is clear, but the Will comes not off, and so he will have his sin still: so when the Persecutor is convinced, that persecuting Gods Saints is a sin, and hates it, this is clear to the Understanding, yet the Will will be malicious still: the heaviest part is the Will. As in a Parliament. Consultation, they must propound all to the King, and he must ratify, and confirm it; now when the Will saith, I will not ratify that, I will not leave that sin, nor take up that duty, now all this while it is not ratified, till the Will come off.