The Soul's Conflict with Itself

It is no easy matter to say in truth of heart [My God] the flesh will still labour for supremacy, God should be all in all unto us, but this will not be till these bodies of flesh (together with the body of sin) be laid aside. He that says God is [my God] and doth not yield up himself unto God, raiseth a building without a foundation, layeth a claim without a title, and claimeth a title without an evidence, reckoning upon a bargain, without consent of the party with whom he would contract.

It is no easie matter to say in truth of heart [My God] the flesh will still labour for supremacy, God should bee all in all unto us, but this will not bee till these bodies of flesh (together with the body of sinne) bee laid aside. Hee that sayes God is [my God] and doth not yeeld up himselfe unto God, raiseth a building without a foundation, layeth a claim without a title, and claimeth a title without an evidence, reckoning upon a bargain, without consent of the party with whom he would contract.

But if a man shall out of the sight and sense of sin, thirst after mercy in Christ, and call unto God for pardon, then God who (is a God hearing prayer and) delighteth ⟨p. 487⟩¹to be known by the name of •cifall, will be ready to close and •t with the desire of such a soul, so •re as to give it leave to rely upon […] for mercy, (and that without pre•ption) until he further discovers self graciously unto it; upon sense […] which grace, the soul may be en•aged to lay a farther claim unto •od, having further acquaintance with […]. Hence are those exhortations so […] in the Prophets, to turn unto the ²