Man ashiv le-Yahoweh, or, A serious enquiry for a suitable return for continued life,…

4. ¹The World will interrupt you, that you may not live up to your Resolutions made to God in time of danger. This is another powerful Assaultant, for your heart and affections; and will plead, If thou didst resolve against sin, that was unlawful, but the things that I have (saith the World) are good, my Riches are good, and my Pleasures are not absolutely evil, and my Profits are not unlawful; if thou wouldest turn off thy drunkenness, why should I be resolved against? and if thou wilt shake off thy wicked company, yet what have I done, that I must not be loved? Company-keeping (saith the World) did impoverish thee, but I will enrich thee, that did consume what was necessary for thy Family, but I come with supplies for them, I will clothe their backs, and I will furnish their Table, and I will bring in Portions for thy Children, I will make thee honourable and esteemed, and I will lay up in store for thee against thy old age, ⟨p. 112⟩when thy labour will be past: Thus will the World come in for entertainment in your heart again, that though you resolved to spend so much time in secret Prayer every day, if God would suffer you to live, yet this worldly business cometh to divert you, and another cometh to take you off from your resolved practice: If you consider what earnest suitors, Satan, sin, and the World will be for your heart, and how your heart is as ready to yield, as these are to solicit, your heart is as willing to have them, as these are to have your heart, then without diligent care it is impossible to live up unto good and holy Resolutions made in time of danger.

4. ¹The World will interrupt you, that you may not live up to your Resolutions made to God in time of danger. This is another powerful Assaultant, for your heart and affections; and will plead, If thou didst resolve against sin, that was unlawful, but the things that I have (saith the World) are good, my Riches are good, and my Pleasures are not absolutely evil, and my Profits are not unlawful; if thou wouldest turn off thy drunkenness, why should I be resolved against? and if thou wilt shake off thy wicked company, yet what have I done, that I must not be loved? Company-keeping (saith the World) did impoverish thee, but I will enrich thee, that did consume what was necessary for thy Family, but I come with supplyes for them, I will cloathe their backs, and I will furnish their Table, and I will bring in Portions for thy Children, I will make thee honourable and esteemed, and I will lay up in store for thee against thy old age,