A39682:461
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.
1. Comfort. This argues thy heart to be upright and honest, what ever thy other gifts and abilities are.
1. Comfort. This argues thy heart to be upright and honest, what ever thy other gifts and abillities are.
Tis uprightness of heart will comfort thee upon a death-bed, 2 Kings 20. 2, 3. ⟨p. 217⟩Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, remember now O Lord, how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, &c.
I am really of his mind who said, si mihi daretur optio eligerim christiani rustici sordidissimum & maxim agreste opus prae omnibus victoriis & triumphis Alexandri au• Caesaris: might I have my wish, I would prefer the most despicable and sordid work of a rustic Christian, before all the victories and triumphs of Alexander or Cesar. Yea, let me add, before all the elaborated duties and excellent gifts of vain professors: before the tongues of men and Angels: it will signify more to my comfort to spend one solitary hour in mourning before the Lord over heart corruption, then many hours in▪ a seeming zealous, but really dead performance of common duties with the greatest enlargements and richest embellishments of parts and gifts.
I am really of his mind who said, si mihi daretur optio eligerim christiani rustici sordidissimum & maxime agreste opus prae omnibus victoriis & triumphis Alexandri au• Caesaris: might I have my wish, I would prefer the most despicable and sordid work of a rustick Christian, before all the victories and triumphs of Alexander or Cesar. Yea, let me adde, before all the elaborated duties and excellent gifts of vain professors: before the tongues of men and Angels: it will signifie more to my comfort to spend one solitary hour in mourning before the Lord over heart corruption, then many hours in a seeming zealous, but really dead performance of common duties with the greatest inlargements and richest embellishments of parts and gifts.