A30570:441
The excellency of holy courage in evil times by Jeremiah Burroughs
The excellency of holy courage in evil times by Jeremiah Burroughs ; published by Thomas Goodwin ... [et al.]
London: printed by Peter Cole and Edward Cole, 1661
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Reason, 1.
The first, Reason of the Differences of the spirits of Gods Servants is from the different disposition that their hearts are in for their receiving of the truths of God at ⟨p. 100⟩some time, from that they are at other times; that it is even to admiration sometimes to consider, that such a truth that there is but a hint of it Given at one time, shall have such power upon their hearts as shall mightily prevail with them, they shall easily entertain it, and easily be convinced by it, and overpowered with it; at another time when there are strong arguments, to bring the truth a great deal more powerfully, and fully to the heart, it vanisheth and comes to little: we use to say; Whatsoever we receive is received according to the disposition of the receiver: what is the reason why people in the time of sickness are ready to hear of any truth, and ready to be convinced of it, and no wranglings and objections against it. If God come in their prosperity, and health with the same truths, they are nothing to them, but wrangle, and object against them and will not yield and be convinced? The truth is the same but the difference is in the disposition of the receiver. And so in regard of the temptation to sin, sometime when a temptation to sin is presented, the heart presently closes with it, without examining; at other times through Gods mercy when temptation comes, it doth not so easily take, but a mans heart will stand out against it, sometimes a mans heart is to the temptation, as tinder to the fire, every spark will take hold, at other times the heart is as the three children, though they walk in fiery temptations, their hearts have not so much as the favour of them: There are three things that do cause the difference in the disposition of heart for receiving a truth of God or receiving a temptation to sin.
The first, Reason of the Differences of the spirits of Gods Servants is from the different disposition that their hearts are in for their receiving of the truths of God at