Divine meditations and holy contemplations. By that reverend divine R. Sibbes D.D. Master of…Divine meditations and holy contemplations. By that reverende divine R. Sibbes D.D. Master of…

Whatsoever good is in a §241natural man, is depraved by a self-end, self-love rules all his actions, he keeps within himself, and makes for himself, he is a god to himself, God is but his Idol. This is true of all natural men in the world, they make themselves their last end; and where the end is depraved, the whole ⟨p. 170⟩course is corrupted.

Whatsoever good is in a §241naturall man, is depraved by a selfe-end, selfe-love rules all his actions, hee keepes within himselfe, and makes for himselfe, he is a god to himselfe, God is but his Idoll. This is true of all naturall men in the world, they make themselves their last end; and where the end is depraved, the whole ⟨p. 170⟩course is corrupted.

The sense of assured §242hope cannot be maintained without a great deal of pains, diligence and watchfulness, 2 Pet. 1. 10. Give all diligence to make your calling & election sure; Insinuating that it will not be had without it; it is the diligent and watchful Christian that hath this assurance, otherwise the holy Ghost will suffer us to be in a damp, and under a cloud, if we stir not up the Graces of the Spirit; It is grace in the Exercise, and love in the Exercise, that's an earnest, and so Faith and Hope in the Exercise is an earnest: I• Grace be asleep, you ⟨p. 171⟩may have Grace, and not know it; therefore we should labour to put our graces into exercise.