A39682:344
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.
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,
1. Quer. Do not all thine enlargements in duty whether public, or private depend upon the Spirit, who is the Lord of influences, and according as he gives out, or holds back those influences, so art thou enlarged or straitened? And what if sometimes he please to give that in a public, which he with-holds in a private duty, as long as thy Soul is satisfied in neither without Communion with God, and the straitness of thy heart is indeed its burden; doth that argue thee to be an hypocrite?
1. Quer. Do not all thine inlargements in duty whether publick, or private depend upon the Spirit, who is the Lord of influences, and according as he gives out, or holds back those influences, so art thou inlarged or straitned? And what if sometimes he please to give that in a publick, which he with-holds in a private duty, as long as thy Soul is satisfied in neither without Communion with God, and the straitness of thy heart is indeed its burden; doth that argue thee to be an hypocrite?