The Fountain of Life Opened

O Soul, of all the false signs of grace, none more dangerous, than those that most resemble true ones. And never doth the Devil more surely and incurably destroy, than when transformed into an Angel of light. What if these meltings of thy heart, be but a flower of nature? What if thou art more beholding to a good temper of body, than a gracious change of spirit for these things? Well, so it may be. Therefore be not secure, but fear and watch. Possibly if thou wouldst but search thine own heart in this matter, thou mayest find, that any other pathetical moving story, will have the like effects upon thee. Possibly too, thou mayest find that notwithstanding all thy raptures and joys at the hearing of Heaven, ⟨p. 334⟩and its glory; yet after that pang is over, thy heart is habitually earthly, and thy conversation is not there.

O Soul, of all the false signs of grace, none more dangerous, than those that most resemble true ones. And never doth the Devil more surely and incurably destroy, than when transformed into an Angel of light. What if these meltings of thy heart, be but a flower of nature? What if thou art more beholding to a good temper of body, than a gratious change of spirit for these things? Well, so it may be. Therefore be not secure, but fear and watch. Possibly if thou wouldst but search thine own heart in this matter, thou maist find, that any other pathetical moving story, will have the like effects upon thee. Possibly too, thou maist find that notwithstanding all thy raptures and joys at the hearing of Heaven, ⟨p. 334⟩and its glory; yet after that pang is over, thy heart is habitually earthly, and thy conversation is not there.

For all thou canst mourn at the relations of Christs Sufferings, thou art not so affected with sin, that was the meritorious cause of the sufferings of Christ; as to crucify one corruption, or deny the next temptation, or part with any way of sin that is gainful, or pleasurable to thee for his sake.