Now that the way to Heaven, may be made sweet and easy to you. 1. Be sure that you do not separate between Gods Commandment, and his Promise: there is no one thing which God hath commanded us to do, but he hath promised strength, and Grace to perform it with: If I look upon the Command alone, then the Work doth seem hard to me; but if I take in the Promise, then it is most sweet and easy. 2. Be sure that you apply your self unto Gods Work, according unto Gods Method; let that be first, which he hath made first; and that last, which he hath made last: A F•gge, or ••llet, is easily drawn from the Stack, if you begin alo••; but if you will take out that first, which doth lie below, it will come hardly: So in regard of Duties; there are some Duties which do lie above, and some that lie beneath; some are to be performed first, and some after: first you must believe, and then do good; Trust in the Lord (saith the Psalmist) and do good: But if you will do good before you believe, then it will come off with difficulty. Gods own Method observed, makes his way sweet and easy. 3. Be sure that you improve, and make use of that variety which God hath given you:1 variety refresheth, and Gods variety is most refreshing: But if I will hold my self only to one Duty, when God hath given me many, and so neglect Gods variety, no wonder that his Work is made hard and tedious: Are you therefore, weary with praying? Apply your self unto Reading. A•e you weary in Reading? Away then to Conference. Possibly you• heart may be backward to Prayer; but by ⟨p. 448⟩that time you have been a while Reading and Meditating, you shall be fit for Prayer; and having been a while at Prayer, you shall be more fit for Conference: but if you will keep your self only to one Duty, your way to Heaven, will be more difficult. Observe therefore Gods variety, and neglect not the same. 4. Be sure that you do not stint your self unto any Work, or Duty, so as to say; Thus far will I go, and no further. If a man be in a Journey, and hath fixed all his Stages, he rides in continual pain and fear, lest he should not reach his appointed place, by his time appointed: But if he say, I will go as far as the Providence of God will carry me, then he rides more at ease in his mind all the day long. So in our Journey to Heaven; if you say, thus far I will go this day, and no further;
Now that the way to Heaven, may be made sweet and easie to you. 1. Be sure that you do not separate between Gods Commandement, and his Promise: there is no one thing which God hath commanded us to do, but he hath promised strength, and Grace to perform it with: If I look upon the Command alone, then the Work doth seem hard to me; but if I take in the Promise, then it is most sweet and easie. 2. Be sure that you apply your self unto Gods Work, according unto Gods Method; let that be first, which he hath made first; and that last, which he hath made last: A F•gge, or ••llet, is easily drawn from the Stack, if you begin alo••; but if you wil take out that first, which doth lie below, it wil come ha•dly: So in regard of Duties; there are some Duties which do lie above, and some that lie beneath; some are to be performed fir•t, and some after: first you must beleeve, and then do good; Trust in the Lord (saith the Psalmist) and do good: But if you wil do good before you beleeve, then it wil come off with difficulty. Gods own Method observed, makes his way sweet and easie. 3. Be sure that you improve, and make use of that variety which God hath given you:1 variety refresheth, and Gods variety is most refreshing: But if I wil hold my self only to one Duty, when God hath given me many, and so neglect Gods variety, no wonder that his Work is made hard and tedious: Are you therefore, weary with praying? Apply your self unto Reading. A•e you weary in Reading? Away then to Conference. Possibly you• heart may be backward to Prayer; but by ⟨p. 448⟩that time you have been a while Reading and Meditating, you shal be fit for Prayer; and having been a while at Prayer, you shal be more fit for Conference: but if you wil keep your self only to one Duty, your way to Heaven, wil be more difficult. Observe therefore Gods vari•ty, and neglect not the same. 4. Be sure that you do not stint your self unto any Work, or Duty, so as to say; Thus far wil I go, and no further. If a man be in a Journey, and hath fixed al his Stages, he rides in continual pain and fear, lest he should not reach his appointed place, by his time appointed: But if he say, I wil go as far as the Providence of God wil carry me, then he rides more at ease in his mind al the day long. So in our Journey to Heaven; if you say, thus far I wil go this day, and no further;
- 1Varietas refocillat.
