Secondly, the flesh is ready to object, that though the duties of a godly life are not absolutely impossible, yet at least they are so full of difficulty, and unpleasant, so tedious and troublesome to our feeble and frail natures, and so uncomfortable and painful, that there is no likelihood, that ever we shall hold out in the doing of them; and therefore it is as good for us to neglect them altogether, as to take upon us such an insupportable burden, as we shall be forced to cast off, before we come half way to our journeys end. The which objection our corrupt flesh doth much strengthen against us, to hinder our Christian resolution, and both our ingress and progress in the ways of godliness, by setting before us the manifold examples of those, that have lived in former times, and in our own days, who having made some good beginnings, have fallen back and relapsed into their former courses; and having begun well with a purpose to proceed, have through weariness desisted, before they could attain to their journeys end. And thus, like the sluggard, the flesh persuadeth us to sit still in the house, because there is 1a Lyon in the streets. And like the murmuring spies, though it confesseth that the spiritual and heavenly Canaan be worth the desiring, as abounding with all Gods blessings, yet it bringeth up an evil report of it, in respect of the manifold difficulties whereby we must pass unto it, and the sons of Anachim, the mighty enemies of our salvation, which must be overcome by us, who are so far inferior unto them in strength, before we can attain unto that place of rest and joy. The which tentation is exceeding dangerous, and a notable impediment to hinder many from once entering into the course of Christianity, because they imagine it to be so irksome and painful, that they shall quickly be tired, and never be able to hold out unto the end. For the answering whereof, that it may be no impediment unto us in the ways of godliness, we are first to know and acknowledge, that it is true in part; namely, that the course of Christianity is full of difficulties, hard and tedious, unpleasant, and even intolerable and impossible in some respects. For the Devil, which is that strong man, who holdeth ⟨p. 817⟩all that he possesseth in peace, will not easily leave his hold, nor 2be cast out without many combats and conflicts.
Secondly, the flesh is ready to obiect, that though the duties of a godly life are not absolutely impossible, yet at least they are so full of difficulty, and vnpleasant, so tedious and troublesome to our feeble and fraile natures, and so vncomfortable and painefull, that there is no likelihood, that euer wee shall hold out in the doing of them; and therefore it is as good for vs to neglect them altogether, as to take vpon vs such an insupportable burthen, as wee shall be forced to cast off, before we come halfe way to our iourneyes end. The which obiection our corrupt flesh doth much strengthen against vs, to hinder our Christian resolution, and both our ingresse and progresse in the wayes of godlinesse, by setting before vs the manifold examples of those, that haue liued in former times, and in our owne dayes, who hauing made some good beginnings, haue falne backe and relapsed into their former courses; and hauing begunne well with a purpose to proceede, haue through wearinesse desisted, before they could attaine to their iourneyes end. And thus, like the sluggard, the flesh perswadeth vs to sit still in the house, because there is 1a Lyon in the streetes. And like the murmuring spies, though it confesseth that the spirituall and heauenly Canaan be worth the desiring, as abounding with all Gods blessings, yet it bringeth vp an euill report of it, in respect of the manifold difficulties whereby we must passe vnto it, and the sonnes of Anachim, the mighty enemies of our saluation, which must be ouercome by vs, who are so farre inferiour vnto them in strength, before wee can attaine vnto that place of rest and ioy. The which tentation is exceeding dangerours, and a notable impediment to hinder many from once entring into the course of Christianity, because they imagine it to be so irkesome and painefull, that they shall quickly be tyred, and neuer be able to hold out vnto the end. For the answering whereof, that it may be no impediment vnto vs in the wayes of godlinesse, wee are first to know and acknowledge, that it is true in part; namely, that the course of Christianity is full of difficulties, hard and tedious, vnpleasant, and euen intolerable and impossible in some respects. For the Deuill, which is that strong man, who holdeth ⟨p. 817⟩all that he possesseth in peace, will not easily leaue his hold, nor 2be cast out without many combates and conflicts.
- 1Pro. 26. 13.
- 2Mar. 9. 25, 26.
