Secondly, Where Grace is, Corruption must needs be very burdensome in this regard also, because that Grace keeps the Soul in continual action and stirring, now look as a man that hath a Leg that is broken, if he could lie still, and never stir, it would not be so grievous and burdensome to him, the pain and breaking of his Leg would not be so burdensome if he could lie still, but if this man, whose Leg is broken, must be stirring, walking, and going up and down, Oh! how burdensome is it that his Leg is broke. So it is with the Soul, it is true, if the Soul might be still a sleep, and doing nothing, then, though there be Corruption in them, it would not be so grievous, I but Grace wherever it is puts the Soul unto action; and therefore it is called, the divine Nature, because it is active, it puts the Soul on to be acting for God, and in the ways of life, now Grace putting the Soul to be acting, and Corruption that being as the breaking of the bones, it must needs be very burdensome, that which most hinders their activity of Grace must needs be very burdensome. You had need therefore take heed what you do when temptation to sin comes, take heed you do not break your bones, and your Legs, Why? Because when you have broken them you must be still stirring and acting for God. A poor man, it is a great deal worse for him, if he break his Leg, then a Rich man; a Rich man may sit by the fire, or lie in his bed a month together, but a poor man, if he break his Leg he doth not know what to do, he must to work, perhaps he cannot have that harbour that a Rich man may have, so I say, those that are of sluggish spirits, though Corruption prevail it is ⟨p. 105⟩not so grievous unto them, but those that are of active spirits and have Grace, and the more Grace that any man or Woman hath, the more burdensome their Corruptions are, because the more Grace there is in the Soul, the more active it will be for God.
Secondly, Where Grace is, Corruption must needs be very burdensome in this regard also, because that Grace keeps the Soul in continual action and stirring, now look as a man that hath a Leg that is broken, if he could lie stil, and never stir, it would not be so grievous and burdensome to him, the pain and breaking of his Leg would not be so burdensome if he could lie stil, but if this man, whose Leg is broken, must be stirring, walking, and going up and down, Oh! how burdensome is it that his Leg is broke. So it is with the Soul, it is true, if the Soul might be stil a sleep, and doing nothing, then, though there be Corruption in them, it would not be so grievous, I but Grace whereever it is puts the Soul unto action; and therefore it is called, the divine Nature, because it is active, it puts the Soul on to be acting for God, and in the waies of life, now Grace putting the Soul to be acting, and Corruption that being as the breaking of the bones, it must needs be very burdensome, that which most hinders their activity of Grace must needs be very burdensome. You had need therefore take heed what you do when temptation to sin comes, take heed you do not break your bones, and your Leggs, Why? Because when you have broken them you must be stil stirring and acting for God. A poor man, it is a great deal worse for him, if he break his Leg, then a Rich man; a Rich man may sit by the fire, or lie in his bed a month together, but a poor man, if he break his Legg he doth not know what to do, he must to work, perhaps he cannot have that harbor that a Rich man may have, so I say, those that are of sluggish spirits, though Corruption prevaile it is ⟨p. 105⟩not so grievous unto them, but those that are of active spirits and have Grace, and the more Grace that any man or Woman hath, the more burdensome their Corruptions are, because the more Grace there is in the Soul, the more active it wil be for God.
