A Saint Indeed

2. Come. Know farther for thy comfort, that God would never leave thee under so many heart troubles and burdens, if he intended not thy real benefit thereby.

2. Com. Know farther for thy comfort, that God would never leave thee under so many heart troubles and burdens, if he intended not thy real benefit thereby.

Thou art often crying out, Lord why is it thus, why go I mourning all the day, having sorrow in my heart, thus long I have been exercised with hardness of heart, and to this day have not obtained a broken heart; many years have I been praying and striving against vain thoughts, yet am still infested and perplexed with them. O when shall I get a better heart! I have been in travel, and brought forth but wind, I have obtained no deliverance, neither have the corruptions of my heart fallen. I have brought this heart many times to prayers, sermons, Sacraments, expecting and hoping for a cure from them, and still my sore runneth and ceaseth not.

Thou art often crying out, Lord why is it thus, why goe I mourning all the day, having sorrow in my heart, thus long I have been exercised with hardness of heart, and to this day have not obtained a broken heart; many years have I been praying and striving against vain thoughts, yet am still infested and perplexed with them. O when shall I get a better heart! I have been in travel, and brought forth but wind, I have obtained no deliverance, neither have the corruptions of my heart fallen. I have brought this heart many times to prayers, sermons, Sacraments, expecting and hoping for a cure from them, and still my sore runneth and ceaseth not.

Pensive Soul, let this comfort thee, thy God designs thy benefit, even by these occasions of thy sad complaints; For (1.) Hereby he would let thee see what thy heart by Nature is and was, and therein take notice how much thou art beholding to free-Grace: He leaves thee under these exercises of Spirit, that thou mayest lye as with thy face upon the ground, admiring that ever the Lord of Glory should take such a Toad; so vile a Creature into his bosom: thy base heart, if it be good for nothing else; yet serves to commend and set off, the unsearchable riches of Free-Grace. (2.) This serves to beat thee off continually from resting, yea, or but glancing upon thine own righteousness, or excellency: the corruption of thy heart, working in all thy duties, makes thee sensible to feel that the bed is too short, and the covering too narrow: Were it not for those reflections thou hast after duties, upon the dullness and distractions of thine heart in them; how apt wouldst thou be to fall in love with, and admire thy own Performances, and Enlargements? For if notwithstanding these, thou hast much to do with the pride of thy