A care-cloth

So we can be no losers, by healing our selves of these diseases of the mind, which carry us after nothing that is worth the having, if we did measure things by a well-ordered judgement.

So wee can bee no losers, by healing our selues of these diseases of the mind, which carry vs after nothing that is worth the hauing, if wee did measure things by a well-ordered iudgement.

2. But moreover,¹ we shall be sure to find acceptance with God, in this our endeavour of mortification, though we come far short of perfection, so long as we do heartily and sincerely strive to perfection. He that fights resolutely against sin with spiritual weapons, shall be accounted a good soldier, though he be wounded in the battle, and knocked down, and taken prisoner, and the Lord will redeem and ransom him again, and not suffer him to perish, or be made a bond-slave in that captivity. If we cannot make our corruptions grow so weak as we would, yet if we be still drawing forth the weapons of our Christian warfare, and using them so well as we can, to fight against our lusts, we shall enjoy the esteem and reputation of faithful subjects, and God and our consciences ⟨p. 125⟩will give us this comfortable and honourable title of good soldiers of Christ Jesus. And what an encouragement ought this to be, that we are certain, our Lord and King will take well our pains, in fighting these battles of his, so well as we can, though in many things we come too short? The will and endeavour in this spiritual combat, is taken for the deed; he that earnestly desireth, and heartily labours to conquer his beloved corruptions, is accounted a conqueror, even though, as yet, he be none. He that resolves, he will never give over the fight, but will up again after all foils, and buckle his harness to him again, though the law of his members do sometimes draw him captive, after the law of sin that is in his members; he, I say, that so resolveth, and so reneweth his resolutions and endeavours, is reputed by the mercy of God in Christ, to have done that he would have done, and to have accomplished that, that he desired to accomplish. Assurance of good acceptance of the weakest endeavours, so long as they be true, may make the weak, as the Prophet speaketh, to say he is strong, and forgetting his weakness, to set upon the work as if he were strong, because even his weakness shall be accounted strength, if his desires, purposes, wishes, and resolutions be strong. There is nothing that can animate a man more to march after Christ, then this consideration.