First, the heart is fully set and resolved for God, there is fuln[…] of 1resolution; so the Septuag[…] slates that place in Joshua 14. vers. 8 where Caleb speaks of his following of God fully; they turn it thus, I decreed, ⟨p. 249⟩I determined to follow him: The heart is fully taken off from shiftings, from hankerings after other 2things, from the engagements that before it had; from disputings reasonings for the ways of the flesh: it doth not hang between two, as unsettled, irresolved, wavering; but is truly and fully taken off, and the resolutions are fully set upon, and for the ways of God. Many have some convictions, some stirrings, some makings towards the ways of God, some approbation of them; thinking with themselves, it were well, if we could do thus: Surely, they are the best men who can do thus; but still some engagement holds them fast; they have thoughts flitting up and down; they would and they would not; they could like well, were it not for this thing and that thing; this inco[…]jence and the other trouble w[…] follow; and so they delay and put off, and think, it may be they may hereafter do better; their good desires and inclinations they hope, may ⟨p. 250⟩serve turn for the present. And thus they stand baffling with God and their own souls: they are, as Seneca speaks of some, always about 3to live: But this soul who fully follows God, is fully broken off from former ways, the thoughts of it are come to a determinate issue; it is resolved against them whatsoever becomes of it; resolved to listen no more after the reasonings of flesh and blood, as S. Paul says of himself, Gal. 1. 15, 16. that after it pleased God to call him by his grace, and to reveal his Son in him, immediately he conferred not with flesh and blood. Many are a great while before they be thus fully taken off; they are as Agrippa, Acts 26. 28. almost persuaded to become Christians; the truths of God do move them, 4but not throughly persuade them; they strive with them, but d• not throughly vanquish them. The spirit of God leaves some in the very birth, that there is never strength to bring forth; but it is a most blessed ⟨p. 251⟩thing, when the heart comes off kindly and fully; now it is not so ready to raise objections against the ways of God, nor to hearken to objections raised by others, as it was before: When the fire is fully kindled;
First, the heart is fully set and resolved for God, there is fuln〈…〉 of 1resolution; so the Septuag〈…〉 slates that place in Ioshuah 14. vers. 8 where Caleb speakes of his following of God fully; they turne it thus, I decreed, ⟨p. 249⟩I determined to follow him: The heart is fully taken off from shiftings, from hankerings after other 2things, from the ingagements that before it had; from disputings reasonings for the wayes of the flesh: it doth not hang betweene two, as unsetled, irresolved, wavering; but is truly and fully taken off, and the resolutions are fully set upon, and for the wayes of God. Many have some cōvictions, some stirrings, some makings towards the wayes of God, some approbation of them; thinking with themselves, it were well, if wee could doe thus: Surely, they are the best men who can doe thus; but still some ingagement holds them fast; they have thoughts flitting up and downe; they would and they would not; they could like well, were it not for this thing and that thing; this inco〈…〉ience and the other trouble w〈…〉 follow; and so they delay and put off, and think, it may be they may hereafter doe better; their good desires and inclinations they hope, may ⟨p. 250⟩serve turne for the present. And thus they stand baffling with God and their owne soules: they are, as Seneca speakes of some, alwayes about 3to live: But this soule who fully followes God, is fully broken off from former wayes, the thoughts of it are come to a determinate issue; it is resolved against them whatsoever becomes of it; resolved to listen no more after the reasonings of flesh and blood, as S. Paul sayes of himselfe, Gal. 1. 15, 16. that after it pleased God to call him by his grace, and to reveale his Son in him, immediately he conferred not with flesh and blood. Many are a great while before they be thus fully taken off; they are as Agrippa, Acts 26. 28. almost perswaded to become Christians; the truths of God doe move them, 4
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- 2[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
- 3Semper victuri.
- 4They do suadere, but not persuader.They doe suadere, but not persuadere.
