A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…

But though the pangs of the New birth be somewhat grievous, and we come not into the world of Grace without some lamentation, yet this is not the state of the Holy life, into which we enter; nor are those pangs to continue all our days.

But though the pangs of the New birth be somewhat grievous, and we come not into the world of Grace without some lamentation, yet this is not the state of the Holy life, into which we enter; nor are those pangs to continue all our daies.

2. You must distinguish between the weaker and the stronger sort of Christians: and consider, that children are apt to cry; but it is not therefore better to be unborn: Sickness is querulous, and the weak are froward; but it is not therefore better to be dead. The godly are not perfectly godly: They are sinners while they are Saints: They have Holiness; but they have corruption with it: Their sin is conquered, but yet not totally rooted out. The relics do remain, though it do not reign. And it is the remnant of their unholiness that they lament, and not their holiness: They grieve not that they are godly, but that they are no more godly. It troubleth them not that they are come home to Christ, but that they have brought so much of their corruption with them. Hearken whether they complain of their Humility or their Pride? of their Faith, or their unbelief? their confidence or their distrust? their repentance or their hardness of heart? It is not their heavenly mindedness that troubleth them, but their earthly-mindedness. Nor is it their spirituality, but their carnality: Nor is it the D• ties, but the weakness and faultiness of their souls in duty: Not that they do it: but that they do it no better. It is more holiness that they beg for, and lament the want of. And will you say that Holiness is unpleasant, because men would so fain have more of it? You would reason with more wisdom in another case. If a man that hath tasted meat or drink, complain because he hath no more, you would not blame his food for that; nor gather from thence, that it is unpleasant, or that famine is more delightful.

2. You must distinguish between the weaker and the stronger sort of Christians: and consider, that children are apt to cry; but it is not therefore better to be unborn: Sickness is querulous, and the weak are froward; but it is not therefore better to be dead. The godly are not perfectly godly: They are sinners while they are Saints: They have Holiness; but they have corruption with it: Their sin is conquered, but yet not totally rooted out. The relicks do remain, though it do not raign. And it is the remnant of their unholiness that they lament, and not their holiness: They grieve not that they are godly, but that they are no more godly. It troubleth them not that they are come home to Christ, but that they have brought so much of their corruption with them. Hearken whether they complain of their Humility or their Pride? of their Faith, or their unbelief? their confidence or their distrust? their repentance or their hardness of heart? It is not their heavenly mindedness that troubleth them, but their earthly-mindedness. Nor is it their spirituality, but their carnality: Nor is it the D ties, but the weakness and faultiness of their souls in duty: Not that they do it: but that they do it no better. It is more holiness that they beg for, and lament the want of. And will you say that Holiness is unpleasant, because men would so fain have more of it? You would reason with more wisdom in another case. If a man that hath tasted meat or drink, complain because he hath no more, you would not blame his food for that; nor gather from thence, that it is unpleasant, or that famine is more delightful.