Seasonable truths in evil-times in several sermons / lately preached in and about London

Again, If you be able to go on in the ways of God more, without whip, or rod, or without spur, it argues you are grown more; give me leave to express it thus: A Horse at the first, till he be acquainted with the Rode and way, he is ridden with a whip and with a spur; but afterwards when he is well used to the way, you may lay the Bridle upon his head, and he need none of the spur and whip; why? because he is now used to the way: and so when Christians come on at the first, then they are whipped on with more fear; but now when the reins seem to be laid upon the neck, they go the better and the faster: when they can go without that whipping and the rod, it argues that they are used more to the way of God, then they were used before.

Again, If you be able to go on in the ways of God more, without whip, or rod, or without spur, it argues you are grown more; give me leave to express it thus: A Horse at the first, till he be acquainted with the Rode and way, he is ridden with a whip and with a spur; but afterwards when he is well used to the way, you may lay the Bridle upon his head, and he need none of the spur and whip; why? because he is now used to the way: and so when Christians come on at the first, then they are whipt on with more fear; but now when the reins seem to be laid upon the neck, they go the better and the faster: when they can go without that whipping and the rod, it argues that they are used more to the way of God, then they were used before.

But further, the more a man is able to go out unto others for counsel, spiritual admonition, consolation, or reprehension, the more he is grown, and he will grow in Grace.

I'll propound you a Parable: suppose three men that are sick and weak; one is extreme ill, and the Physician comes to his bed-side, and he spits in his Physicians face, and will take nothing.