A Saint Indeed

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 ⟨p. 220⟩heart; how much more, if such humbling and self-abasing considerations were wanting. And lastly this tends to make thee the more compassionate and tender towards others, Perhaps thou wouldst have little pity for the distresses, and soul troubles of others, if thou hadst less experience of thine own.

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 bosome: 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 dulness and distractions of thine heart in them; how apt wouldst thou be to fall in love with, and admire thy own Performances, and Inlargements? For if notwithstanding these, thou hast much to do with the pride of thy