I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

First: You say, That you are straightened in Duty; but are you satisfied and contented with that condition? or if you had enlargement in Duty, would you be satisfied therein? No, I am not satisfied with my straightened condition; and the truth is, though I had never so much enlargement, enlargement alone would never satisfy my soul; but if I had more affection, I would give it up to God, yea, if I had a Sea of Affection, I would pour it out before the Lord, and if I had Prayers, and Tears, and Enlargements, like the Sands upon the Seashore, I would offer them all up to God. Well, and is not this to be enlarged towards God? A poor man that hath never a penny in his Purse, sees another, or many others in want, but he hath nothing to relieve them with; yet saith he, if I had wherewithal, I would relieve all these men, I would clothe them all, or I would feed them all: is not this mans heart enlarged now towards the poor, though he hath not a penny to help them with? So in your case; for the present, thy Affection is poor, and thou a•• straightened, but thou sayest, if I had a Sea of Affection, I would give it all to God; and if I had Prayers like the Sand upon the Sea-shore, I would give them all to God; is not this to be enlarged towards God? God doth give by denying sometimes, and thus he hath dealt by you.

First: You say, That you are straightened in Duty; but are you satisfied and contented with that condition? or if you had enlarge•ent in Duty, would you be satisfied therein? No, I am not satisfied with my straightened condition; and the truth is, though I had never so much enlargement, enlargement alone would never satisfie my soul; but if I had more affection, I would give it up to God, yea, if I had a Sea of Affection, I would powr it out before the Lord, and if I had Prayers, and Tears, and Enlargements, like the Sands upon the Se•shore, I would offer them all up to God. Well, and is not this to be enlarged towards God? A poor man that hath never a penny in his Purse, sees another, or many others in want, but he hath nothing to relieve them with; yet saith he, if I had wherewithal, I would relieve all these men, I would cloath them all, or I would feed them all: is not this mans heart enlarged now towards the poor, though he hath not a penny to help them with? So in your case; for the present, thy Affection is poor, and thou a•• straightened, but thou sayest, if I had a Sea of Affection, I would give it all to God; and if I had Prayers like the Sand upon the Sea-shore, I would give them all to God; is not this to be enlarged towards God? God doth give by denying somtimes, and thus he hath dealt by you.