A39682:225
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. Help. Maintain a praying frame of heart in the intervals of duty; What is the ⟨p. 111⟩reason our hearts are so dull, careless and wandering, when we come to hear or pray, but because there have been such long intermissions in our communion with God; by reason whereof the heart is out of a praying frame: if that spiritual warmth, those holy impressions we carry from God in one duty, were but preserved to kindle another duty; it would be of marvellous advantage, to keep the heart intent, and serious with God.
5. Help. Maintain a praying frame of heart in the intervals of duty; What is the ⟨p. 111⟩reason our hearts are so dull, careless and wandring, when we come to hear or pray, but because there have been such long intermissions in our communion with God; by reason whereof the heart is out of a praying frame: if that spiritual warmth, those holy impressions we carry from God in one duty, were but preserved to kindle another duty; it would be of marvellous advantage, to keep the heart intent, and serious with God.
To this purpose those intermediate ejaculations, betwixt stated and solemn duties, are of most sweet and excellent use; by these, one duty is as it were linked to another, and so the Soul as it were wraps up it self in a chain of duties. That Christian seldom misses his mark in solemn duty, that shoots up many of these darts in the intervals of duty, 'tis an excellent commendation Christ bestows upon the spouse, Cant. 4. 11. Thy lips O my spouse drop as the honey comb: upon which text one gives this sweet note, the honey comb drops actually but sometimes, but it always hangs full of sweet drops ready to fall: if our ejaculations were more, our lamentations upon this account would be fewer.
To this purpose those intermediate ejaculations, betwixt stated and solemn duties, are of most sweet and excellent use; by these, one duty is as it were linked to another, and so the Soul as it were wraps up it self in a chain of duties. That Christian seldome misses his mark in solemn duty, that shoots up many of these darts in the intervals of duty, 'tis an excellent commendation Christ bestows upon the spouse,