The Soul's Conflict with Itself

God hath prescribed trust, as the way to carry our souls to himself, in whom we should only rely, and not in our imperfect trust which hath its ebbing and flowing; Neither will trust in God himself for the present suffice us for future strength and grace, as if trusting in God to day, would suffice to strengthen us for tomorrow; but we must renew our trust for fresh supply, upon every fresh occasion. So that we see God alone must be the object of our trust.

God hath prescribed trust, as the way to carry our soules to himselfe, in whom we should only rely, and not in our imperfect trust which hath its ebbing and flowing; Neither will trust in God himselfe for the present suffice us for future strength and grace, as if trusting in God to day, would suffice to strengthen us for tomorrow; but wee must renew our trust for fresh supply, upon every fresh occasion. So that wee see God alone must be the object of our trust.

There is still left in mans nature a desire of pleasure profit, and of what ever the creature presents as good, but the desire of gracious good is altogether lost, the soul being wholly infected with a contrary taste. Man hath a nature capable of excellency, and desirous of it, and the Spirit of God in and by the word reveals where true excellency is to be had; but corrupt nature leaving God, seeketh it elsewhere, and so crosseth its ⟨p. 328⟩own desires, till the Spirit of God discovers where these things are to be had, and so nature is brought to its right frame again, by turning the stream into the right current, Grace, and sinful nature, have the same general object of comfort; only sinful nature seeks it in broken Cisterns, and grace in the fountain; the beginning of our true happiness is from the discovery of true and false objects, so as the soul may clearly see what is best and safest, and then steadfastly rely upon it.

There is still left in mans nature a desire of pleasure profit, and of what ever the creature presents as good, but the desire of gracious good is altogether lost, the soule being wholy infected with a contrary taste. Man hath a nature capable of excellency, and desirous of it, and the Spirit of God in and by the word reveales where true excellency is to bee had; but corrupt nature leaving God, seeketh it elsewhere, and so crosseth its