Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

Prop. 5. The strict Account we take of our selves must be frequent. Every Christian is Christs Garden, that drinketh ^(w)in the rain that cometh oft upon it: As there must be frequent Showers on Gods part, so there must be frequent Weeding on our part, or no Blessing to be expected. This is not a Duty that can be dispatched at once; those that do not often account, never account as they ought. Methinks I may allude unto the dying words of Elisha to Joash^(y), when he bid the King smite upon the ground, without prescribing how oft; but when he smote only thrice, the man of God was wroth with him, and told him, he should have smitten oftener. What, do you reflect upon your selves only upon some qualm of Conscience, or upon some rousing Sermon, or upon some startling Providence? Don't you know that your hearts are incredibly deceitful; Satan perpetually watchful to steal away the Word, and he will do it unless you^(z) hide it in your heart. Your ordinary Experience tells you, that you never let your accounts run on to any length, but they are entangled; and that your frequent self-reflections are always blessed with growth of Grace. But I'll come to some Inferences from the Doctrine.

Prop. 5. The strict Account we take of our selves must be frequent. Every Christian is Christs Garden, that drinketh ^(w)in the rain that cometh oft upon it: As there must be frequent Showers on Gods part, so there must be frequent Weeding on our part, or no Blessing to be expected. This is not a Duty that can be dispatcht at once; those that do not often account, never account as they ought. Methinks I may allude unto the dying words of Elisha to Joash^(y), when he bid the King smite upon the ground, without prescribing how oft; but when he smote only thrice, the man of God was wroth with him, and told him, he should have smitten oftener. What, do you reflect upon your selves only upon some qualm of Conscience, or upon some rouzing Sermon, or upon some startling Providence? Don't you know that your hearts are incredibly deceitful; Satan perpetually watchful to steal away the Word, and he will do it unless you