so must we take the same course for the good of our souls, carefully observing the first declinations of our spiritual health, that we may stop them at the beginning, before they break out into any extremities. And considering that those diseases both of body and soul, are most dangerous and desperate (not which come suddenly with some sensible violence, but) which steal upon us by degrees upon no apparent causes, and impair the health by little and little, because they are hardly discerned, and when they are known, not easily cured, as in the outward man, the consumption, hectic fever, and the like; and in the inward and spiritual part, carnal security, hardness of heart, and others of like nature; let us not therefore neglect the least declinations in saving grace, and holy duties, but keep a careful watch over our selves, that none of these diseases of our souls steal upon us, and become desperate before we discern them. Let us be as good husbands for our souls, as we are for our clothes, houses and grounds, mending little holes, before they tear out into great rents, repairing the first decays, ere they become rotten and ruinous, and making up the breach as soon as we discern it, before it come to an inundation, and carry us away in a flood of wickedness. And this counsel the Apostle giveth us. Lift up (saith he) the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths to your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way, but let it rather be healed, &c. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up, trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. A third cause of apostasy, is a great opinion of our own strength, which causeth God to leave us that we may see our weakness, as we see in the fearful defection of the Apostle Peter: And also a fond conceit that we are so rich in grace, that we may spend upon the stock, and labour for no more; and that we have already so well profited in religious duties, that we need not take any care or pains to make any further progress: For there is no standing still in the ways of Christianity; but when we cease to go forward, we begin to go backward; when in our own opinion we are at the full, we will begin to wane and decline towards a change;
so must we take the same course for the good of our soules, carefully obseruing the first declinations of our spirituall health, that we may stop them at the beginning, before they breake out into any extremities. And considering that those diseases both of body and soule, are most dangerous and desperate (not which come suddenly with some sensible violence, but) which steale vpon vs by degrees vpon no apparant causes, and impaire the health by little and little, because they are hardly discerned, and when they are knowne, not easily cured, as in the outward man, the consumption, hectique feuer, and the like; and in the inward and spirituall part, carnall security, hardnesse of heart, and others of like nature; let vs not therefore neglect the least declinations in sauing grace, and holy duties, but keepe a carefull watch ouer our selues, that none of these diseases of our soules steale vpon vs, and become desperate before we discerne them. Let vs bee as good husbands for our soules, as wee are for our clothes, houses and grounds, mending little holes, before they teare out into great rents, repairing the first decayes, ere they become rotten and ruinous, and making vp the breach as soone as wee discerne it, before it come to an inundation, and carry vs away in a floud of wickednesse. And this counsell the Apostle giveth vs. Lift vp (saith he) the hands which hang downe, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths to your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way, but let it rather be healed, &c. Looking diligently lest any man faile of the grace of God, lest any root of bitternesse springing vp, trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. A third cause of apostasie, is a great opinion of our owne strength, which causeth God to leaue vs that we may see our weaknesse, as we see in the fearfull defection of the Apostle Peter: And also a fond conceit that we are so rich in grace, that we may spend vpon the stocke, and labour for no more; and that we haue already so well profited in religious duties, that we need not take any care or paines to make any further progresse: For there is no standing still in the wayes of Christianity; but when we cease to goe forward, wee begin to goe backward; when in our owne opinion we are at the full, we will begin to wane and decline towards a change;
