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

1. I desire the dejected Christian to consider, that by his heavy and uncomfortable life, he seemeth to the world to accuse God and his service, as if he openly called him a rigorous, hard, unacceptable master, and his work a sad unpleasant thing. I know this is not your thoughts: I know it is your selves and not God and his service that offendeth you; and that you walk not heavily because you are holy, but because you fear you are not holy, and because you are no more holy: I know it is not of grace, but for grace that you complain. But do you not give too great occasion to ignorant spectators to judge otherwise? If you see a servant always sad, that was wont to be merry while he served another master, will you not think that he hath a master that displeaseth him? If you see a woman live in continual heaviness ever since she was married, that lived merrily before, will you not think that she hath met with an unpleasing match? You are born and new born for Gods honour: and will you thus dishonour ⟨p. 355⟩him before the world? What do you (in their eyes) but dispraise him by your very countenance and carriage, while you walk before him in so much heaviness! The child that still cries when you put on his shoes, doth signify that they pinch him: and he dispraiseth his meat that makes a sower face at it: And he dispraiseth his friend, that is alway sad and troubled in his company! He that should say of God [Thou art bad, or cruel and unmerciful] should blaspheme. And so would he that saith of Holiness [It is a bad, unpleasant, hurtful state.] How then dare you do that which is so like to such blaspheming? when you should abstain from all appearance of evil? 1 Thes. 5. 22. Canst thou find in thy heart thus to dishonour and wrong the God whom thou so much esteemest, and the grace which thou so much desirest? For a wicked man that is far from God, to go heavily or roar in the horror of his soul, is a shame to his sin, but no dishonour to God and Holiness. But for you that are near him, in relation, engagement, and attendance, to walk so heavily, reflects on him to whom you are Related, and from whom you look for your Reward.

1. I desire the dejected Christian to consider, that by his heavy and uncomfortable life, he seemeth to the world to accuse God and his service, as if he openly called him a rigorous, hard, unacceptable master, and his work a sad unpleasant thing. I know this is not your thoughts: I know it is your selves and not God and his service that offendeth you; and that you walk not heavily because you are holy, but because you fear you are not holy, and because you are no more holy: I know it is not of grace, but for grace that you complain. But do you not give too great occasion to ignorant spectators to judge otherwise? If you see a servant alwayes sad, that was wont to be merry while he served another master, will you not think that he hath a master that displeaseth him? If you see a woman live in continual heavyness ever since she was marryed, that lived merrily before, will you not think that she hath met with an unpleasing match? You are born and new born for Gods honour: and will you thus dishonour