A39682:153
A Saint Indeed
A saint indeed: or The great work of a Christian, opened and pressed; from Prov. 4. 23 Being a seasonable and proper expedient for the recovery of the much decayed power of godliness, among the professors of these times. By John Flavell M. of the Gospel.
London: printed by W.R., 1668
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Isa. 51. 13. And hast feared continually ⟨p. 77⟩because of the oppressor, as if he were ready to devour, and where is the fury of the Oppressor? He seemed ready to devour, but yet you are not devoured; I have not brought upon you the thing that ye feared; You have wasted your spirits, disordered your souls, and weakened your hands, and all this to no purpose. You might have all this while enjoyed your peace, and possessed your souls in patience. And here I cannot but observe a very deep policy of Satan managing a design against the soul by these vain fears: I call them vain in regard of the frustration of them by Providence, but certainly they are not in vain as to the end Satan aims at in raising them, for herein he acts as Soldiers use to do in the Siege of a Garrison, who on purpose to wear out the besieged by constant watchings, and thereby unfit them to make resistance when they storm it in earnest, do every night give them false Alarms, which though they come to nothing, yet do notably serve this further design of the enemy. O when will you beware of Satan's devices?
Isa. 51. 13. And hast feared continually ⟨p. 77⟩because of the oppressor, as if he were ready to devour, and where is the fury of the Oppressor? He seem'd ready to devour, but yet you are not devoured; I have not brought upon you the thing that ye feared; You have wasted your spirits, disordered your souls, and weakened your hands, and all this to no purpose. You might have all this while enjoyed your peace, and possessed your souls in patience. And here I cannot but observe a very deep policy of Satan managing a design against the soul by these vain fears: I call them vain in regard of the frustration of them by Providence, but certainly they are not in vain as to the end Satan aims at in ra•sing them, for herein he acts as Souldiers use to do in the Siege of a Garrison, who on purpose to wear out the besieged by constant watchings, and thereby unfit them to make resistance when they storm it in earnest, do every night give them false Allarms, which though they come to nothing, yet do notably serve this further design of the enemy. O when will you beware of Sathans devices?