The Soul's Conflict with Itself

The more we set before the so• that quiet estate in heaven, which t• ⟨p. 137⟩souls of perfect men now enjoy, and it self ere long shall enjoy there, The more it will be in love with it, and endeavour to attain unto it. And because the soul never worketh better, than when it is raised up by some strong and ¹sweet affection; let us look upon our nature, as it is in Christ, in whom it is pure, sweet, calm, meek, every way lovely. This sight is a changing sight, love is an affection of imitation, we affect a likeness to him we love. Let us learn of Christ to be humble and meek, and then we shall find rest to our souls. ²The setting of an excellent idea and platform before us, will raise and draw up our souls higher, and •ke us sensible of the least movings of spirit, that shall be contrary to that, the attainment whereof we have in our desires. He will hardly attain to mean things, that sets not before him higher perfection. Naturally we love to see symmetry and proportion, even in a dead picture, and are much taken with some curious piece. But why should we not rather labour to keep the affections of the ⟨p. 138⟩soul in due proportion? Seeing a me• and well ordered soul is not on• lovely in the sight of men and Ang• but is much set by, by the great Go• himself. But now the greatest care• those that set highest price upon the• selves is, how to compose their o• ward carriage in some graceful m• ner, never studying how to compose their spirits; and rather how to […] the deformity of their passions then […] cure them. Whence it is that the fou inward vices are covered with the fairest visors, and to make this the worse, all this is counted the b breeding.