A30570:488
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.
1. There are some that are steady and constant; as these two things: take Gods people, and consider of them in any condition, if they know but their own hearts, they will find these two things: First, An approving of the life and power, and the strictness of the ways of Godliness. Secondly, they will find a savour of that which is spiritual, either in Ordinances, or in Gods People, their hearts will savour them, though their hearts be very much down, yet these two things they find constant.
1. There are some that are steady and constant; as these two things: take Gods people, and consider of them in any condition, if they know but their own hearts, they will find these two things: First, An approving of the life and power, and the strictness of the waies of Godliness. Secondly, they wil find a savor of that which is spiritual, either in Ordinances, or in Gods People, their hearts will savor them, though their hearts be very much down, yet these two things they find constant.
2. But for the abilities to perform duties, for abilities in service or suffering; they do not lie so next the root of Grace; they are but as the Leaves, or the blossoms, or the fruit: now though the sap be constant at the root, yet the blossoms, leaves, and fruit are not.
Object. But you will say, Being there may be good moods in men, take the worst of all, though their hearts be naught sometime, yet their hearts are up at other times, and may not you instead of encouraging Gods Servants, encourage the wicked? they may think, we hear there is a difference between Gods People, they are not always alike: so it is with me, sometimes I am distempered, but at other times (thanks be to God) it is better with me, and so instead of taking away discouragements from those that are weak, there may be encouragement to the wicked, and therefore where lies the difference between the good moods that some have, that have no true Grace, and the difference of spirit in those that have true Grace?