CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

To explain this a little,

¹First, There may be the presence of dullness and unwillingness sometimes in the Children of God, but this is not reigning, nor is it habitually consented to, but resisted and with much agony prayed against; There is no garden but hath some of this weed in it; No gold but some of this dross; No godly man but now and then hath wearisomeness and unwillingness to holy duties seizing upon him; Thus we read the Church when Christ knocked at the door, though he had stood all night, and his locks were wet with the dew, yet the Church out ⟨p. 205⟩of a dull sluggish humour doth refuse to open to him, Cant. 5.2, 3. So Rev. 2. There the Church is reproved for suffering her graces to decay, and that her duties were not filled up with fervency and solidity; yea, we may read of the Church complaining of this slothfulness and coldness, when she said, Draw us and we will run after thee, Cant. 1.4. And at another time, Why hast thou hardened our hearts from thy fear? Isa 63.17. So that it's too manifest the people of God have much coldness and negligence in them; What is that which fills their hearts with so many complaints but this, what makes them so full of fears and doubts about their spiritual condition, Is it not want of life, vigour, and willingness? Oh they find their hearts can take delight and be willingly drawn out in earthly affairs, but they are like so many lumps of earth in heavenly things, when yet there is far more excellency, worth, and dignity in holy things then in all the whole world to draw out the heart▪ so then let the godly for their comfort distinguish between the presence of unwillingness and the power of it; Between unwillingness in the command and power over the soul, and the reluctancy and striving against it; The Apostle speaketh generally of sin, Let it not reign in your mortal bodies;