Clavis cantici, or, An exposition of the Song of Solomon

and there is a lion in their streets, and sometimes, as it were, even in the house-floor, when any duty is pressed upon them that would rob them of their carnal ease, Prov, 26. 13. and 22. 13. 3. It's much for one in a secure frame to wrestle with their own indisposition, it's a weariness then to take the hand out of the bosom, Prov. 26. 15. 4. It's not a commendable shamefastness, but must needs be a very sinful modesty, that keeps one from duty: It was indeed more shameful to lye still, than to rise.

and there is a lyon in their streets, and sometimes, as it were, even in the house-floor, when any duty is pressed upon them that would rob them of their carnal ease, Prov, 26. 13. and 22. 13. 3. It's much for one in a secure frame to wrestle with their own indisposition, it's a wearinesse then to take the hand out of the bosome, Prov. 26. 15. 4. It's not a commendable shamefastnesse, but must needs be a very sinful modesty, that keeps one from duty: It was indeed more shameful to lye still, than to rise.

Her second ground is of the same nature, I have washed my feet: washing the feet, fitted and prepared for rest; mens feet in these countries, being, by walking bare-footed, someway stiffened, beaten and bruised, which by washing were eased and refreshed, as we may see, Gen. 18. 19. in Abraham and Lots carriage to the Angels, supposing them to be men: So here, it is, I have fitted and composed my self for rest, as being wearied with the painfulness of holy duties, and now she cannot endure to stir her self toward these, as if that would again defile her: In […] reasoning, there are these faults, 1. That she doth at all offer to debate a clear duty, this makes way for the snare. 2. That she interprets the study of holiness, and communion with Christ to be a trouble, and carnal security to be an ease: There will be strange misrepresentations sometimes, both of our faults and failings, and of Christ's worth and excellency, which have much influence on our deadness and sinful distempers. 3. She makes one sinful action the cause of her continuance in another: There is often a connection amongst ins, and one draws on another; the premisses that the flesh lays down as principles, will still bear conclusions like themselves: It's unsound and unsafe reasoning from these. 4. That which should stir and persuade her to rise, to wit, that she was not right, she makes a motive of it to strengthen her self in her lazy inclination to lye still; Carnal sense draws conclusions most unreasonable in every thing, and tends still to foster it self, whereas faith and tenderness would reason the quite contrary. 5. She puts too honest a name upon her security, and calleth it the washing of her feet, which was indeed the polluting of them: