Sacramental meditations upon divers select places of scripture

Thirdly: Excitation of affections, and all these are sensibly obstructed by innate Corruption: For by in-dwelling sin.

First: The order of the soul is disturbed by sending forth multitudes of ⟨p. 41⟩¹vain and impertinent thoughts to infest and distract the soul in its approaches to God; the sense of this evil gave occasion to that prayer, Psal. 86. 11. Unite my heart to fear thy Name. How much have we to do with our own hearts upon this account every day? Abundance of rules are given to cure this evil; but the corruption of the heart makes them all necessary.

1. 11.

Secondly: The activity of Faith is ¹clogged by natural unbelief: O, what difficulties is every work of Faith carried through? Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief, Mark. 9. 24. It cramps the hand of Faith in every part of its work; the soul sensibly feels it self bound and fettered by its own unbelief, so that it cannot assent with that fullness, clearness, and determinateness that it would. It cannot apply with that strength, certainty, and comfort it desires; and thus are the wings of Faith pinioned, that when we should soar aloft in the highest acts of sweet communion with God, we can but flutter upon the Earth, and make some weak essays and offers Heaven-ward, which often times are frustrated and put by, through the unbelief that is in us.