A39682:238
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.
7. Season. The seventh season calling for more than common diligence to keep the heart is, when we receive injuries and abuses from men, such is the depravedness and corruption of man in his collapsed state, that homo ⟨p. 117⟩homini lupus, one man is become a wolf, a Tiger to another: th•y are as the Prophet complains Hab. 1. 14. as the fishes of the sea, and as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them, and as wicked men are cruel and oppressive one to another, so they conspire together to abuse and wrong the people of God, as the same Prophet complains, v. 13. the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he. Now when we are thus abused and wronged, 'tis hard to keep the heart from revengeful motions: to make it meekly and quietly to commit the cause to him that judgeth righteously: to exercise no other affection but pity towards them that abuse us. Surely the Spirit that is in us lusteth to revenge, but it must not be so: you have choice helps in the Gospel to keep down your hearts from such sinful motions against your enemies, and to sweeten your embittered Spirits: the seventh case therefore shall be this.
7. Season. The seventh season calling for more than common diligence to keep the heart is, when we receive injuries and abuses from men, such is the depravedness and corruption of man in his collapsed state, that homo ⟨p. 117⟩homini lupus, one man is become a wolf, a Tyger to ano•her: th•y are as the Prophet complains Hab. 1. 14. as the fishes of the sea, and as the creep•ng things, that have no ruler over them, and as wicked men are cruel and oppressive one to another, so they conspire together to abuse and wrong the people of God, as the same Prophet complains, v. 13. the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he. Now when we are thus abused and wro•ged, 'tis hard to keep the heart from revengful motions: to make it meekly and quietly to commit the cause to him that judgeth righteously: to exercise no other affection but pity towards them that abuse us. Surely the Spirit that is in us lusteth to revenge, but it must not be so: you have choice helps in the Gospel to keep down your hearts from such sinful motions against your enemies, and to sweeten your imbitter'd Spirits: the seventh case therefore shall be this.