A39682:293
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.
The heart may be kept from falling into this dangerous snare, by retorting the temptation thus: But what profit will it be if a man should gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Mat. 16. 26. O my soul, my precious soul! shall I hazard thee for all the good that is in this world? There is an immortal spirit dwelling in this fleshly Tabernacle, of more value than all earthly things, which must live to all eternity, when this world shall lye in white ashes: A soul for whi•h Jesu• Christ shed his precious and invaluable blood: I was sent into this world to provide ⟨p. 143⟩for this soul; indeed God hath also committed to me the care of my body, but (as one happily expresses it) with this difference; a Master commits two things to a Servant,1 the Child, and the Child's clothes: will the Master thank the Servant, if he plead, I have kept the clothes, but I have neglected the life of the Chil•.
The heart may be kept from falling into this dangerous snare, by retorting the temptation thus: But what profit will it be if a man should gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Mat. 16. 26. O my soul, my precious soul! shall I hazard thee for all the good that is in this world? There is an immortal spirit dwelling in this fleshly Tabernacle, of more v•lue than all earthly things, which must live to all eternity, when this world shall lye in white ashes: A soul for whi•h Jesu• Christ shed his precious and invaluable blood: I was sent into this world to provide ⟨p. 143⟩for this soul; indeed God hath also committed to me the care of my body, but (as one happily expresses it) with this difference; a Master commits two things to a Servant,