A39682:451
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. Mea. He that means to keep his heart must carefully observe its first declinings from God, and stop it there.
He that will keep his house in good repair, must stop every chink as soon as discovered, and he that will keep his heart must not let a vain thought be long neglected: the serpent of heart Apostasy is best killed in the egg of a small remission. O if many poor decayed Christians had looked to their hearts in time, they had never come to that sad pass they now are: we may say of heart neglects, as the Apostle doth of vain babblings, that they increase to more and more ungodliness: nemo repentè fit turpissimus, little sins neglected will quickly become great and masterless: the greatest Crocodile once lay in an egg, the greatest oak was once but an acorn: the firing of a small train of powder may blow up all by leading to a greater quantity: men little think what a proud, vain, wanton, or worldly thought may grow to: behold how great a matter a little fire kindles!
He that will keep his house in good repair, must stop every chinke assoone as discovered, and he that will keep his heart must not let a vain thought be long neglected: the serpent of heart Apostas•e is best killed in the egge of a small remission. O if many poor decayed Christians had lookt to their hearts in time, they had never come to that sad pass they now are: we may say of heart neglects, as the Apostle doth of vain bablings, that they increase to more and more ungodliness: nemo repentè fit turpissimus, little sins neglected will quickly become great and masterless: the greatest Crocodile once lay in an egge, the greatest oake was once but an acorn: the firing of a small train of powder may blow up all by leading to a greater quantity: men little think what a proud, vain, wanton, or worldly thought may grow to: behold how great a matter a little fire kindles!