A39682:93
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.
e.) by irradiating the Soul with a grace-discovering light, shining upon his own work; and this in order of nature follows the former work: he first infuses the grace, and then opens the eye of the Soul to see it. Now since the heart is the subject of that infused grace, even this way of the Spirits witnessing also includes the necessity of keeping carefully our own hearts: for (1) A neglected heart is so confused and dark, that the little grace which is in it is not ordinarily discernible: the most accurate and laborious Christians, that take most pains, and spend most time about their hearts, do yet find it ⟨p. 31⟩very difficult to discover the pure and genuine workings of the Spirit there: how then shall the Christian which is (comparatively) negligent and remiss about heart-work, be ever able to discover it? Sincerity which is the quaesitum, the thing sought for, lies in the heart like a small piece of Gold in the bottom of a River, he that will find it must stay till the water be clear and settled, and then he shall see it sparkling at the bottom; and that the heart may be clear and settled, how much pains and watching care and diligence will it cost?
e.) by irradiating the Soul with a grace-discovering light, shining upon his own work; and this in order of nature follows the former work: he first infuses the grace, and then opens the eye of the Soul to see it. Now since the heart is the subject of that infused grace, even this way of the Spirits witnessing also includes the necessity of keeping carefully our own hearts: for (1) A neglected heart is so confused and dark, that the little grace which is in it is not ordinarily discernable: the most accurate and laborious Christians, that take most pains, and spend most time about their hearts, do yet finde it ⟨p. 31⟩very difficult to discover the pure and genuine workings of the Spirit there: how then shall the Christian which is (comparatively) negligent and remiss about heart-work, be ever able to discover it? Sincerity which is the quaesitum, the thing sought for, lies in the heart like a small piece of Gold in the bottom of a River, he that will find it must stay till the water be clear and settled, and then he shall see it sparkling at the bottom; and that the heart may be clear and setled, how much pains and watching care and diligence will it cost?