A39682:337
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.
2. The second ground is, the declining and withering of our affections to spiritual ⟨p. 157⟩things, O saith the upright Soul, if ever I had been planted a right seed, I should have been as a green olive tree in the house of my God: but my branches wither, therefore my root is naught. But stay,
1. Q•er. May you not be mistaken about the decay of grace, and fading of your affections? What if they be not so quick and ravishing as at first? may not that be recompensed in the spirituality and solidity of them •ow? 1 Phil. 9. I pray God your love may abound more and more in all judgment: it may be more solid, though not so fervorous: or do you not mistake by looking forward to what you would be, rather then backward to what once you were? 'tis a good note of Ames: we discern the growth of grace, as the growth of plants, which we perceive rather crevisse quam crescere, to have grown, then to grow.
1. Q•er. May you not be mistaken about the decay of grace, and fading of your affections? What if they be not so quick and ravishing as at first? may not that be recompensed in the spirituality and solidity of them •ow? 1 Phil. 9. I pray God your love may abound more and more in all judgment: it may be more solid, though not so ferverous: or do you not mistake by looking forward to what you would be, rather then backward to what once you were? 'tis a good note of Ames: we discern the growth of grace, as the growth of plants, which we perceive rather crevisse quam crescere, to have grown, then to grow.