Some general directions for a comfortable walking with God delivered in the lecture at…Some generall directions for a comfortable walking with God deliuered in the lecture at…

4. They are thereby many times occasions of discouragement, and disheartening to those which are without, that they ⟨p. 355⟩are more loth to enter into the ways of life; prejudging them to be thorny and rough, dark and deep, full of dumps and drooping, of heaviness and horror; whereas indeed and truth, they are all paved with mercy and love, strewed with Violets and Roses, full of fresh springs of spiritual comforts, and sweetly enlightened even in the darkest passages, with heavenly and healing beams of the Sun of righteousness. For whether it be fit to believe the Spirit of all truth and comfort; or the scornful spirit of impure drunkards, and Satan's Revellers; judge you. This precise and¹ strict walking, say they, which is pressed upon us with such importunateness, and confidence, would not lead us to mopishness and melancholy; would enchaine us to that abridgement of our pleasure, restraint from company; from crowning our selves with Rose-buds, and former courses of good fellowship and mirth, of which our generous and Jovial spirits are most impatient, and utterly uncapable. But what saith the blessed Spirit; ^aHer ways are ways of pleasantness: and all her paths are peace. They give them occasion to mis-conceive, that the yoke of Christ is burdensome, and will gall their necks: whereas in truth and trial, it is ^beasy and light, and would prove a chain of heavenly Pearls to adorn their souls; that after they have given their names to profession, they shall never have merry day, but must necessarily bid adieu to all delight: whereas their joys should not be taken away, but only changed, as one of the Ancients speaks; and that most happily, and with an unvaluable advantage. For the filth and froth of their sensual bitter-sweet pleasures, fugitive follies, & furious delights, which pass away in the act, as the taste of pleasant drink dyeth in the draught, should be turned into that true unconquerable spiritual joy, which the World cannot give, nor man, nor devil take away. ^cTheir crashes of loud laughter amid their pots and pastimes, which are but as the cracking of thorns under a pot, the Devils Wakes and Music for Hell, should be converted into a sweet, constant, habitual contentment of mind. Nay more;