A39682:31
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.
To hasten now to a conclusion, I have only these three requests to you, which I carnestly beseech you not to deny me; Yea, I charge you, as ever you hope to appear with comfort before the great Shepherd, do not dare to slight these requests. (1.) Above all other studies in the world, study your own hearts: waste not a minute more of your precious time about frivolous and sapless controversies: it is reported even of Bellarmine (how truly I examine not) quod à studiis scholasticae theologiae averteretur ferè nauseabundus, 1quoniam succo carebant liquidae pietatis, (i. e.) •e turned with loathing from the study of School Divinity, because it wanted the sweet juice of piety: I had rather it should be said of you as one said of 2Swinckfeedius (He wanted ⟨image 7⟩a regular head, but not an honest heart) then that you should have regular heads, and irregular hearts: My dear Flock, I have according to the grace given me, laboured in the course of my ministry among you, to feed you with the heart—strengthening bread of practical doctrine, and I do assure you, it is far better you should have the sweet and saving impressions of Gospel-Truths, feelingly, and powerfully conveyed to your hearts; then only to understand them by a bare ratiocination, or a dry syllogistical inference: Leave trifling studies to such as have time lying on their hands, and know not how to employ it: Remember you are at the door of Eternity, and have other work to do; those hours you spend upon heart-work in your closets, are the golden spots of all your time, and will have the sweetest influence into your last hour: Never forget those Sermons I preached to you upon that subject, from 2. Kings 20. 2. 3. Heart work is weighty and difficult work, an error there may cost you your souls: I may say of it, as Augustine speaks of the Doctrine of the Trinity, Nihilo facilius aut periculosius erratur; a man can err in nothing more easily, or more dangerously: O then, study your hearts. (2.) My next request is, that you will carefully look to your Conversations, and be accurate in all your ⟨image 8⟩