A30570:605
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.
4. Further be not discouraged for fear of any difficult work you shall be called to, because there is no work of a Christian, that he is called to, but as it spends strength it gives strength, it gives more then it spends, in the way of spending it gives: A man will never be afraid of cold in work that brings more heat then cold, the sluggard would not plough because it was cold, in Prov. 20 4. But if he had ploughed his labour would have brought in heat; and so it is a sluggish reason to think, shall I do such an hard work and I have such little strength? the work will bring in strength; as if a man should say I am cold in the house, how cold should I be in the field, and how cold when I take hold on the plough which is cold, and the earth which is cold? indeed if there were nothing in the work to bring in heat we might say so; but the work brings in more heat, then there is coldness in the air: And so people think I have scarce strength for that work which I have now, but if it be more difficult what then? If it be more difficult, and it bring in more strength, then it would be better then it is now.
4. Further be not discouraged for fear of any difficult work you shall be called to, because there is no work of a Christian, that he is called to, but as it spends strength it gives strength, it gives more then it spends, in the way of spending it gives: A man will never be affraid of cold in work that brings more heat then cold, the sluggard would not plow because it was cold, in Prov. 20 4. But if he had plowed his labor would have brought in heat; and so it is a sluggish reason to think, shall I do such an hard work and I have such little strength? the work will bring in strength; as if a man should say I am cold in the house, how cold should I be in the feild, and how cold when I take hold on the plow which is cold, and the earth which is cold? indeed if there were nothing in the work to bring in heat we might say so; but the work brings in more heat, then there is coldness in the ayr: And so people think I have scarce strength for that work which I have now, but if it be more difficult what then? If it be more difficult, and it bring in more strength, then it would be better then it is now.