Thirdly: As for Particular Persons. Wouldst thou be established in the Truth, and good Ways of God? Then observe what those things are, which do make others unsettled, and take heed thereof. In case a man doth decay, or break in his Estate; some great Merchant, Tradesman, or Farmer break, you will diligently look into the causes of it, and say, this man lived at too high a rate, beyond his Estate; or he was bound for others, or he kept ill Company, or he did not keep his Accounts well, and therefore I will take heed of these things. Now will ye observe the Causes of an outward Break, and will ye not observe what are the Reasons ⟨p. 441⟩that so many are unsettled, break, and decay, in the Trade of their souls? Surely, 1. Either it is because they do want primitive breakings; for the stony Ground comes to nothing at the last, though it hath much joy at the first, because it wants depth of Earth. The stick that is thrust into the Earth, is more easily pulled up, than the Plant which is rooted in the Earth. So are all those who have no root in themselves. 2. Or because they take up great Resolutions, without answerable pre-deliberations; whereas we know that the Needle must play about the Polar Point, before it comes to stand and s•ttle; he that would hit the mark, must take his level, before he parts with his Arrow. And if men resolve, before they have fully considered, they will ere long, be unresolved again. 3. Or because men do not walk by a settled Rule: •e can never be settled, that doth not walk by a settled Rule: A mans own thoughts, and apprehensions, are unsettled things; the Hebrew word for Thoughts, 1comes from a Root which signifies to move, as the tops of Trees, because as the tops of the Trees waver, and are in continual motion, so are our Thoughts and Apprehensions. But the Word of the Lord is settled as the Heavens, Psal. 119. Thy Word is for ever settled in Heaven. So long as I want the Divine Counsel of the Word, my heart is like a Vagrant, that is most unstable, said Bernard; for whilst I am not subject to God, I am contrary to my self. 4. Or because they are divided in their own hearts: a double minded man, is unstable in all his Ways, saith the Apostle; and when men have an heart, and an heart, [Greek or Hebrew] an heart for the World, yet a good mind to Christ; how is it possible but th•y should be most unsettled? 5.
Thirdly: As for Particular Persons. Would'st thou be established in the Truth, and good Waies of God? Then observe what those things are, which do make others unsetled, and take heed thereof. In case a man doth decay, or break in his Estate; some great Merchant, Tradesman, or Farmer break, you wil diligently look into the causes of it, and say, this man lived at too high a rate, beyond his Estate; or he was bound for others, or he kept ill Company, or he did not keep his Accounts wel, and therefore I wil take heed of these things. Now wil ye observe the Causes of an outward Break, and wil ye not observe what are the Reasons ⟨p. 441⟩that so many are unsetled, break, and decay, in the Trade of their souls? Surely, 1. Either it is because they do want primitive breakings; for the stony Ground comes to nothing at the last, though it hath much joy at the first, because it wants depth of Earth. The stick that is thrust into the Earth, is more easily pulled up, than the Plant which is rooted in the Earth. So are al those who have no root in themselves. 2. Or because they take up great Resolutions, withou• answerable pre-deliberations; whereas we know that the Needle must play about the Polar Point, before it comes to stand and s•ttle; he that would hit the mark, must take his level, before he parts with his Arrow. And if men resolve, before they have fully considered, they wil ere long, be unresolved again. 3. Or because men do not walk by a setled Rule: •e can never be setled, that doth not walk by a setled Rule: A mans own thoughts, and apprehensions, are unsetled things; the Hebrew word for Thoughts, 1comes from a Root which signifies to move, as the tops of Trees, because as the tops of the Trees waver, and are in continual motion, so are our Thoughts and Apprehensions. But the Word of the Lord is setled as the Heavens, Psal. 119. Thy Word is for ever setled in Heaven. So long as I want the Divine Counsel of the Word, my heart is like a Vagrant, that is most unstable, said Bernard; for whilst I am not subject to God, I am contrary to my self. 4. Or because they are divided in their own hearts: a double minded man, is unstable in al his Waies, saith the Apostle; and when men have an heart, and an heart, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 an heart for the World, yet a good mind to Christ; how is it possible but th•y should be most unsetled? 5.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew] cogitationes quae in corde sunt, sicut ramus in arbour hinc inde diffusus.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 cogitationes quae in corde sunt, sicut ramus in arbore hinc inde diffusus.
