Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

3. Inconstancy in practice. How much beginning in the Spirit, and ending in the Flesh; one day in the Sanctuary, another in the Stews; clear in the morning as the Sun, and clouded before noon; in Heaven by an excellency of Gifts, in Hell by a course of profaneness? Like a Flower, which some mention, that changes its colour three times a day; one part white, then purple, then yellow. The Spirit lusts against the Flesh, and the Flesh quickly triumphs over the Spirit. In a good man how often is there a Spiritual Lethargy? Tho he doth not openly defame God, yet he doth not always glorify him: He doth not forsake the truth, but he doth not always make the attainment of it, and settlement in it his business. This levity discovers it self in religious duties, when I would do good, evil is present with me. ^*Never more present, than when we have a mind to ⟨p. 233⟩do good, and never more present than when we have a mind to do the best and greatest good: How hard is it to make our thoughts and affections keep their stand? place them upon a good Object, and they will be frisking from it, as a Bird from one bough, one fruit to another. We vary postures according to the various objects we meet with. The course of the World is a very airy thing, suited to the uncertain motions of that Prince of the power of the Air, which works in it.^*

3. Inconstancy in practice. How much beginning in the Spirit, and ending in the Flesh; one day in the Sanctuary, another in the Stews; clear in the morning as the Sun, and clouded before noon; in Heaven by an excellency of Gifts, in Hell by a course of prophanness? Like a Flower, which some mention, that changes its colour three times a day; one part white, then purple, then yellow. The Spirit lusts against the Flesh, and the Flesh quickly triumphs over the Spirit. In a good man how often is there a Spiritual Lethargy? Tho he doth not openly defame God, yet he doth not alwayes glorifie him: He doth not forsake the truth, but he doth not alwayes make the attainment of it, and settlement in it his business. This levity discovers it self in religious duties, when I would do good, evil is present with me. ^*