A Saint Indeed

And by keeping the Heart understand, the diligent and constant use and improvement of all holy Means and Duties to preserve the Soul from sin, and maintain its sweet and free communion with God.

^*Lavater in loc. will have the word taken from a besieged Garrison, begirt by many Enemies without, and in danger of being betrayed by treacherous Citizens within, in which danger the Soldiers upon pain of death are commanded to watch: and whereas the expression, (keep thy heart) seems to put it upon us as ourwork; yet it doth not imply a sufficiency or ability in us to do it; we are as able to stop the Sun in its course, or make the Rivers run backward, as by our own skill and power to rule and order our hearts: we may as well be our own Saviours, as our own Keepers, and yet Solomon speaks properly enough, when he saith, keep thy ⟨p. 4⟩Heart, because the duty is ours, though the power be Gods. A Natural man hath no power, a gracious man hath some; though not sufficient, and that power he hath depends upon the exciting and assisting strength of Christ; Gratia gratiam postulat, Grace within us is beholding to Grace without us, John 15. 5. Without me ye can do nothing. So much of the matter of the Duty.

^*Lavater in loc. will have the word taken from a besieged Garrison, begirt by many Enemies without, and in danger of being betrayed by treacherous Citizens within, in which danger the Souldiers upon pain of death are commanded to watch: and whereas the expression, (keep thy heart) seems to put it upon us as ourwork; yet it doth not imply a sufficiency or ability in us to do it; we are as able to stop the Sun in its course, or make the Rivers run backward, as by our own skill and power to rule and order our hearts: we may as well be our own Saviours, as our own Keepers, and yet Solomon speaks properly enough, when he saith, keep thy ⟨p. 4⟩