A Saint Indeed

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.

You say, your hearts are dead; and doe you wonder they are so as long as you keep them not with the fountain of life? if your bodies had been diated 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.

O Christians! I fear your zeal and strength hath run in the wrong channel: I fear most of us may take up the Churches complaint, Cant. 1. 6. They have made me the keeper of the Vineyards, but mine own Vineyard have I not kept. Two things have eaten up the time and strength of the Professors of this Generation, and sadly diverted them from heart work. (1) Fruitless controversies started by Satan, I doubt not to this very purpose, to take us off from practical godliness, to make us puzzle our heads, when we should be searching our hearts. O how little have we minded that of the Apostle, Heb. 13. 9. Tis a good thing that the heart be established with Grace, and not with meats: (i. e.) with disputes and controversies about meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

O Christians! I fear your zeal and strength hath run in the wrong chanel: I fear most of us may take up the Churches complaint,