And first, It may be objected, that this is a very hard and difficultly practicable thing, we cannot do it, we dow not do it, it will not go with us, and indeed there is naturally in us all an averseness from nothing more than from this: And we conceive that who ever will essay it in earnest, will find it to be a difficult duty indeed, more difficult and harder to be gone about, then either Prayer, hearing of the Word, or conference on a spiritual subject; It being a duty wherein the inner man at the Bar of Conscience, and so in some respect at the Bar of Gods Tribunal, is exercised and taken up; which maketh it difficult even to them that would fain go about it: We shall therefore in answer to this objection, 1. speak something in general. 2. We shall speak more particularly to some directions or helps, for making it easy. In general, We say, 1. That the Duty would not be scared at, because of it's difficulty, for the most excellent Duties that have the greatest influence on the practice of godliness, that strike most at the body of Death, and are most discriminating characters of the godly; •hen suitably discharged, are ordinarily most difficult, ⟨p. 207⟩and we would love them the better, and prefer them in some respect to others, that are more easy, and which Hypocrites, and mere Formalists may go about; and indeed such a one is this (as hath been showed) And▪ therefore we have the greater reason to press towards the practice of it. 2ly. We would say, that though it be difficult, yet ye would essay it; and if ye do so seriously, and in the strength of Christ, ye will find it go far better, and more easily with you, then possibly ye expect; And the truth is, that as to these Duties, that are more inward and spiritual▪ that which is called for from us, is our essaying of, and putting hand to them, and seriously necessitating our selves to it; which, if we do, we have them, and this in particular, laid before us, in the Promise, As Ezek. 16. 63. That thou mayest remember and be confounded, &c. and 36▪ 31. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and doings that were not good, &c. And so particularly we come to speak in the 2d, place, of the Directions and Helps for making it easy. The 1. whereof, is this, That we would essay it with an eye to the promise; for indeed this, and all other Duties lie in Promises;
And first, It may be objected, that this is a very hard and difficultly practicable thing, we cannot do it, we dow not do it, it will not go with us, and indeed there is naturally in us all an aversness from nothing more than from this: And we conceive that who ever will essay it in earnest, will find it to be a difficult duty indeed, more difficult and harder to be gone about, then either Prayer, hearing of the Word, or conference on a spiritual subject; It being a duty wherein the inner man at the Bar of Conscience, and so in some respect at the Bar of Gods Tribunal, is exercised and taken up; which maketh it difficult even to them that would sain go about it: We shall therefore in answer to this objection, 1. speak something in general. 2. We shall speak more particulary to some directions or helps, for making it easie. In general, We say, 1. That the Duty would not be scared at, because of it's difficulty, for the most excellent Duties that have the greatest influence on the practice of godlness, that strick most at the body of Death, and are most discriminating characters of the godly; •hen suitably discharged, are ordinarly most difficult, ⟨p. 207⟩and we would love them the better, and prefer them in some respect to others, that are more easie, and which Hypocrites, and meer Formalists may go about; and indeed such a one is this (as hath been shewed) And▪ therefore we have the greater reason to press towards the practice of it. 2ly. We would say, that though it be difficult, yet ye would essay it; and if ye do so seriously, and in the strength of Christ, ye will find it go far better, and more easily with you, then possibly ye expect; And the truth is, that as to these Duties, that are more inward and spiritual▪ that which is called for from us, is our essaying of, and putting hand to them, and seriously necessitating our selves to it; which, if we do, we have them, and this in particular, laid before us, in the Promise, As Ezek. 16. 63. That thou mayest remember and be confounded, &c. and 36▪ 31. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and doings that were not good, &c. And so particularly we come to speak in the 2d, place, of the Directions and Helps for making it easiy. The 1. whereof, is this, That we would essay it with an eye to the promise; for indeed this, and all other Duties ly in Promises;
