The Soul's Conflict with Itself

3. Again, hence we see, that the spirit of God by these inward speeches ¹doth awake the soul, and keep it in a holy exercise, by stirring up the grace of faith to its proper function. It is not so much the having of grace, as grace in exercise, that preserves the soul; therefore we should by this and the like means stir up the grace of God in us, that so it may be kept a working •nd in vigour and strength. It was Davids manner to awake himself, by bidding both heart and harp to awake. It is the waking Christian (that ha•h his wit and his grace ready about him) who is ⟨p. 250⟩the safe Christian; grace dormant without the exercise doth not secure us. It is almost all one (in regard of present exigence) for grace not to be and not to work. The soul without action, is like an instrument not played upon, or like a ship always in the Haven. Motion is a preservative of the purity of things. Even life it self is made more lively by action. The spirit of GOD whereby his children are led, is compared to things of the quickest and strongest actions, as fire and wind, &c. God himself is a pure act, always in acting; and every thing the nearer it comes to God, the more it hath its perfection in working. The happiness of man consists chiefly in a gracious frame of spirit, and actions suitable sweetly issuing there-from: the very rest of heavenly bodies is in motion in their proper places. By this stirring up the grace of God in us, sparkles come to be flames, and all graces are kept bright. Troubles stir up David, and David being stirred stirs up himself.