A39682:197
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.
5. Consid. If it be bad now, it will be better shortly.
O keep thy heart by that Consideration! the Meal in the Barrel is almost spent, well, be it so; why should that trouble me, If I am almost beyond the need and use of all these things. The Traveller hath spent almost all his money, but a shilling or two left; Well, (saith he) though my money be almost spent, yet my journey is almost finished too; I am near home, and then shall be fully supplied. If there be no Candles in the house, yet 'tis a comfort to think that its almost day, and then there will be no need of Candles. I am afraid Christian thou mis-reckonest thy self, when thou thinkest; my provision is almost ⟨p. 98⟩spent, and I have a great way to travel, many years to live, and nothing to live upon; it may be not half so many as thou supposest; in this be confident, if thy provision be spent, either fresh supplies are coming, (though thou seest not from whence) or thou art nearer thy journeys end than thou reckonest thy self to be. Desponding soul, doth it become a man or woman travelling upon the Road to that heavenly City, and almost arrived there, within a few days journey of his Fathers house, where all his wants shall be supplied, to take on thus about a little meat, drink or clothes, which he fears he shall want by the way? It was a noble saying of the 40 Martyrs, famous in the Ecclesiastical Story, when turned out naked in a frosty night to be starved to death; with these words they comforted one another [Greek or Hebrew] &c. the winter indeed is sharp and cold, but Heaven is warm and comfortable; here we shiver for cold, but Abraham's bosom will make amends for all.
O keep thy heart by that Consideration! the Meal in the Barrel is almost spent, well, be it so; why should that trouble me, If I am almost beyond the need and use of all these things. The Traveller hath spent almost all his money, but a shilling or two left; Well, (saith he) though my money be almost spent, yet my journey is almost finisht too; I am near home, and then shall be fully supplied. If there be no Candles in the house, yet 'tis a comfort to think that its almost day, and then there will be no need of Candles. I am afraid Christian thou mis-reckonest thy self, when thou thinkest; my provision is almost