The Soul's Conflict with Itself

§. 8.

7. We should therefore labour to bring our souls (as David doth here) ¹to a firm and peremptory resolution, and not stand wavering and as it were equally balanced betwixt God and other ⟨p. 257⟩things; but enforce our souls, we shall get little ground of infidelity else; drive your souls therefore to this issue, either to rely upon God, or else to yield up it self to the present grievance; if by yielding it resolves to be miserable there's an end, but if it desires rest, then let it resolve upon this only way to trust in God; and well may the soul so resolve, because in God there are grounds of quieting the soul, above all that may unsettle it; In him there is both worth to satisfy, and strength to support the soul. The best way to maintain inward peace, is to settle and fix our thoughts upon that which will make us better till we find our hearts warmed and wrought upon thereby, and then (as the Prophet speaks) God will keep us in peace, peace, ²that is, in perfect and abundant peace. This resolution stayed Job, that though God should kill him yet he resolved to trust in him; Answerable to our resolution is our peace: the more resolution the more peace; Irresolution of it self without any grievance is full of disquiet; ⟨p. 258⟩It is an unsafe thing always to begin to live; to be always cheapening and paltering with God: Come to this point once, Trust God I ought, therefore trust God I will, come what may or will.

7. Wee should therefore labour to bring our soules (as David doth here) ¹to a firme and peremptory resolution, and not stand wavering and as it were equally ballanced betwixt God and other