A Saint Indeed

(3. Quer.) Have not many Souls feared as you do, that when Christ and creatures should stand as competitors in some eminent trial they should forsake Christ rather then the creature, and yet when brought to that Dilemma have been able to cast all the world at their heels for Christ? Many of the Martyrs had such fears, and thus they were satisfied: the prevalency of love is best seen at parting: there may be more love to Christ in thy Soul then thou art now aware of; and if God bring thee to such a pinch thou mayest see it.

(3. Quer.) Have not many Souls feared as you do, that when Christ and creatures should stand as competitors in some eminent tryal they should forsake Christ rather then the creature, and yet when brought to that Dilemma have been able to cast all the world at their heels for Christ? Many of the Martyrs had such fears, and thus they were satisfied: the prevalency of love is best seen at parting: there may be more love to Christ in thy Soul then thou art now aware of; and if God bring thee to such a pinch thou mayest see it.

4. A fourth ground of these sad conclusions is from hence, that we find our hearts sometimes more straitened in private, then in public duties. Oh if my ⟨p. 160⟩Soul were sincere, its actings in duty would be uniform. I fear I am but a Pharisee upon this ground: 'tis sad indeed we should at any time find our hearts straitened in private. But,

4. A fourth ground of these sad conclusions is from hence, that we find our hearts sometimes more straitned in private, then in publick duties. Oh if my ⟨p. 160⟩Soul were sincere, its actings in duty would be uniform. I fear I am but a Pharisee upon this ground: 'tis sad indeed we should at any time find our hearts straitned in private. But,