Heaven upon earth in the serene tranquillity and calm composure, in the sweet peace…

As for the 3d. thing proposed to be spoken of, viz. The causes of this so abominable and grossly sinful neglect; they may easily and soon be found out, if we knew and considered what a nature we have, so very averse from true holiness; yea, the more sublimely holy, ⟨p. 229⟩and spiritual that duties be, the more averse naturally are we from hem: as its much easier to bring a man to the profession, then it is to bring him to the power of Religion; So is it much more easier to bring a man to the practice of many external duties thereof, then to the practice of this one inward duty; It being as it were, a •neding knife to Corruption, bringing a man to strike at the very Roo•, and Life of it; and it being (as it were) a setting of him on the Black-stone; ^*He is the more averse from it: We may add to this, the consideration of the influence that the Devil hath on us, in this neglect; who knowing well how prejudicial to him, to his kingdom, and interest; and how advantageous to the sinner this duty is; he labours mightily to hold all in confusion, and to keep the soul fast asleep, as that which contributes much, if not most to the gaining of his point; for he knows by experience (very galling to him) that self-examination awakes a man, and gives him a view of himself, and puts him to think, how he may be rescued from this destroyer; and therefore he doth in a special manner, hate, abhor, and set himself against it; And though he will suffer a man to do many other Religious duties, yet he labours by all means to keep him from this duty, because it help• much through grace to make him cast out with himself, and his own way; and so makes Satan in a manner hopeless of him.

As for the 3d. thing proposed to be spoken of, viz. The causes of this so abominable and gro•ly sinful neglect; they may easily and soon be found out, if we knew and considered what a nature we have, so very averse from true holinesse; yea, the more sublimely holy, ⟨p. 229⟩and spiritual that duties be, the more averse naturally are we from hem: as its much easier to bring a man to the profession, then it is to bring him to the power of Religion; So is it much more easieto bring a man to the practice of many external duties thereof, then to the practice of this one inward duty; It being as it were, a neding knife to Corruption, bringing a man to strick at the very Roo, and Life of it; and it being (as it were) a setting of him on the Black-stone;