Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…

And his fuller acquaintance with the gracious nature, office and tenderness of Christ, together with greater Love to his Brethren, doth cause him in this to judge more gently than young censorious Christians do. And his humble acquaintance with his own infirmities, maketh him the more compassionate to others. If he should think that God would reject all that order not, and word not their prayers aright, he would be afraid of being rejected himself, who is still conscious of greater faultiness in his own prayers, than a mere defect in words and order; even of a great defectiveness in ⟨p. 133⟩that faith, and desire, and love, and zeal, and reverence which should be manifested in prayer. Though he be more apprehensive than others of the excellency and necessity of the holiness and spirituality of the soul in worship; yet withal he is more judicious and charitable than the peevish and passionate infant Christians, who think that God doth judge as they do, and seeth no grace where they see none; and taketh all to be superstitious or fanatical, that differ from their opinions or manner of worship; or that he is as ready to call every error in the method or the words of prayer, Idolatry or Will-worship, as those are that speak not what they they know, but what they have heard some Teachers whom they reverence say before them. He that dwelleth in Love, doth dwell in God, and God in him, and he that dwelleth in God, is liker to be best acquainted with his mind concerning his children and his worship, than he that dwelleth in wrath, and pride, and partiality.

And his fuller acquaintance with the gracious nature, office and tenderness of Christ, together with greater Love to his Brethren, doth cause him in this to judge more gently than young censorious Christians do. And his humble acquaintance with his own infirmities, maketh him the more compassionate to others. If he should think that God would reject all that order not, and word not their prayers aright, he would be afraid of being rejected himself, who is still conscious of greater faultiness in his own prayers, than a meer defect in words and order; even of a great defectiveness in ⟨p. 133⟩that faith, and desire, and love, and zeal, and reverence which should be manifested in prayer. Though he be more apprehensive than others of the excellency and necessity of the holiness and spirituality of the soul in worship; yet withall he is more judicious and charitable than the pievish and passionate infant Christians, who think that God doth judge as they do, and seeth no grace where they see none; and taketh all to be superstitious or fanatical, that differ from their opinions or manner of worship; or that he is as ready to call every error in the method or the words of prayer, Idolatry or Wilworship, as those are that speak not what they they know, but what they have heard some Teachers whom they reverence say before them. He that dwelleth in Love, doth dwell in God, and God in him, and he that dwelleth in God, is liker to be best acquainted with his mind concerning his children and his worship, than he that dwelleth in wrath, and pride, and partiality.