A39682:97
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.
Besides, the careless heart makes nothing out of any Duty or Ordinance it performs or attends on, and yet these are the Conduits of Heaven from whence Grace is watered and made fruitful: a man may go with an heedless spirit from Ordinance to Ordinance, abide all his days under the choicest teachings and yet never be improved by them; for heart neglect is a leak in the bottom, no heavenly influences how rich soever, abide in that Soul, Matth. 13. 3, 4. The heart that lies open and common like the high-way, free for all passengers; when the Seed fell on it, the fowls came and devoured it. Alas! it is not enough to hear, unless we take heed how we hear: a man may pray, and never the better, unless he watch unto prayer. In a word, all Ordinances, Means and Duties are blessed unto the improvement of Grace, according to the care and strictness we use in keeping our hearts in them.
Besides, the careless heart makes nothing out of any Duty or Ordinance it performs or attends on, and yet these are the Conduits of Heaven from whence Grace is watred and made fruitful: a man may go with an heedless spirit from Ordinance to Ordinance, abide all his dayes under the choicest teachings and yet never be improved by them; for heart neglect is a leak in the bottom, no heavenly influences how rich soever, abide in that Soul, Matth. 13. 3, 4. The heart that lies open and common like the high-way, free for all passengers; when the Seed fell on it, the fowls came and devoured it. Alas! it is not enough to hear, unless we take heed how we hear: a man may pray, and never the better, unless he watch unto prayer. In a word, all Ordinances, Means and Duties are blessed unto the improvement of Grace, according to the care and strictness we use in keeping our hearts in them.
6. Lastly, The stability of our Souls in the hour of temptation, will be much ⟨p. 35⟩according to the care and Conscience we have of keeping our hearts; the careless heart is an easy prey to Satan in the hour of temptation, his main Batteries are raised against that Fort-royal, the Heart; if he win that, he wins all, for it commands the whole man; and alas, how easy a Conquest is a neglected heart? 'tis no more difficult to surprise it, than for an enemy to enter that City, whose Gates are open and unguarded: 'tis the watchful heart that discovers and suppresses the temptation before it come to its strength. Divines observe this to be the method in which temptations are ripened and brought to their full strength;