A Saint Indeed

2. Hence I also infer for the humiliation even of upright hearts, that unless the people of God spend more time and pains about their hearts then generally and ordinarily they do, they are never like to do God much service, or be owners of much comfort in this World.

I may say of that Christian that is remiss and careless in keeping his heart, as Jacob said of Reuben, Thou shalt not excel: It grieves me to see how many Christians there are that go up and down dejected and complaining, that live at a poor low rate; both of service and comfort, and how can they expect it should be otherwise as long as they live at such a careless rate? O how little of their time is spent in the closet, in searching, humbling, and quickening their hearts?

I may say of that Christian that is remiss and careless in keeping his heart, as Iacob said of Reuben, Thou shalt not excel: It grieves me to see how many Christians there are that go up and down dejected and complaining, that live at a poor low rate; both of service and comfort, and how can they expect it should be otherwise as long as they live at such a careless rate? O how little of their time is spent in the closet, in searching, humbling, and quickning their hearts?

You say, your hearts are dead; and do you wonder they are so as long as you keep them not with the fountain of life? if your bodies had been dieted as your Souls have been, they would have been dead too: never expect better hearts till you take more pains with them; qui •ugit molam, fugit farinam: ⟨p. 186⟩he that will not have the sweat, must not expect the sweet of Religion.