The Soul's Conflict with Itself

A Ship that lies at Anchor may be something tossed, but yet it still remains so fastened, that it cannot be carried away by wind or weather; the soul after it hath cast anchor upon God, may (as we see here in David) be disquieted a while, but this unsettling tends to a deeper settling; the more we believe, the more we are established; faith is an establishing grace, by faith we stand, and stand fast, and are able to withstand whatsoever opposeth us. For what can ⟨p. 346⟩stand against God, upon whose truth and power faith relies? The devil fears not us, but him whom we fly unto for succour; It is the ground we stand on secures us, not our selves.

A Ship that lyes at Anchor may bee something tossed, but yet it stil remains so fastned, that it cannot bee caried away by winde or weather; the soule after it hath cast anchor upon God, may (as we see here in David) be disquieted a while, but this unsetling tends to a deeper setling; the more we beleeve, the more we are established; faith is an establishing grace, by faith we stand, and stand fast, and are able to withstand whatsoever opposeth us. For what can ⟨p. 346⟩stand against God, upon whose truth and power faith relyes? The devill feares not us, but him whom we flie unto for succour; It is the ground wee stand on secures us, not our selves.

As it is our happiness, so it must be our endeavour to bring the soul close to God, that nothing get between, for then the soul hath no sure footing. When we step from God, Satan steps in by some temptation or other presently. It requires a great deal of self denial to bring a soul either swelling with carnal confidence, or sinking by fear and distrust, to lye level upon God, and cleave fast to him; Square will lie fast upon Square; but our hearts are so full of unevenness, that God hath much ado to square our hearts fit for him, notwithstanding the soul hath no rest without this.

As it is our happinesse, so it must be our endeavour to bring the soule close to God, that nothing get between, for then the soule hath no sure footing. When we step from God, Sathan steps in by some temptation or other presently. It requires a great deale of self deniall to bring a soule either swelling with carnall confidence, or sinking by fear and distrust, to lye levell upon God, and cleave fast to him; Square will lie fast upon Square; but our hearts are so full of unevennesse, that God hath much ado to square our hearts fit for him, notwithstanding the soule hath no rest without this.