A care-cloth

4. But there are some of Gods Saints that fight in this battle, but with a very faint hand, pursuing their lusts, as Israel did the Philistines,¹ when Sauls rash oath had made them almost to starve themselves for hunger, as it were, with a languishing foot and hand. They set against fins, sometimes, but not often, not continually; they do not count it the main matter, as soldiers do, and let all other things give place to that: they are more eager against the faults of others, then against their own faults, though some pains they take this way too. They see some corruptions, and resist; but they are not diligent enough, in striving to find out all their evil inclinations, and to set against them. I know not how you may better find it, then words can express it, but they fight against many sins, but by the hauls. Hence it comes to pass, that they do catch many wounds, and break out divers times, into many such words and deeds, that do both blemish them, and vex them much, and yet they cannot take warning, but because other things do divert them from the study of mortification, they grow slack and remiss again. Doubtless, my Brethren, he that behaves himself coldly in this fight, is but a weak Christian, whatever knowledge he have gotten, and whatever name of forwardness he hath attained. And sure, many that are of great note, because they can speak well, are yet hereby proved not to be strong men, but even babes in Christ at best: for alas, how far are they ⟨p. 172⟩from having put to death pride, passion, envy, lust, worldliness, and other corruptions; yea, how much and often do these sins prevail against them? O, let us see our weakness in this: for not as we know and can speak, so is our goodness, but as we can mortify the members that are upon the earth. It is not bravery of speech that makes a good soldier, but the blood of his enemies falling before him.

4. But there are some of Gods Saints that fight in this battaile, but with a very faint hand, pursuing their lusts, as Israel did the Philistims,¹ when Sauls rash oath had made them almost to starue themselues for hunger, as it were, with a languishing foote and hand. They set against finnes, sometimes, but not often, not continually; they doe not count it the maine matter, as souldiers doe, and let all other things giue place to that: they are more eager against the faults of others, then against their owne faults, though some paines they take this way too. They see some corruptions, and resist; but they are not diligent enough, in striuing to find out all their euill inclinations, and to set against them. I know not how you may better find it, then words can expresse it, but they fight against many sinnes, but by the haules. Hence it comes to passe, that they doe catch many wounds, and breake out diuers times, into many such words and deeds, that doe both blemish them, and vexe them much, and yet they cannot take warning, but because other things doe diuert them from the studie of mortification, they grow slacke and remisse againe. Doubtlesse, my Brethren, he that behaues himselfe coldly in this fight, is but a weake Christian, whateuer knowledge he haue gotten, and whateuer name of forwardnesse he hath attained. And sure, many that are of great note, because they can speake well, are yet hereby proued not to be strong men, but euen babes in Christ at best: for alasse, how farre are they