The Christians labour and reward, or, A sermon, part of which was preached at…

Thirdly, The difficulty the Christian finds to order his Conversation, so that his care for one part of his work may not hinder him in another. Now the reason of this difficulty, is the seeming contrariety of some duties to others: Seeming, I say, not real, indeed it is in Satan's service only (not in Gods) that there is a real contrariety of work: Errors have their opposites; he that maintains one, cannot, if he understands himself, hold some others; so in Practical Lusts, some are at such a feud, that when one is in the Throne, the other is kept under, but all Truths agree lovingly together, being all but one Faith; and so do the Graces of a Christian, being all the effect of one and ⟨p. 23⟩the same Holy Spirit; they do no more hinder one another in acting, than the several wheels in a well made Clock do one another's motions; or the various members of the body, one the others Operations and Functions; yet, I say, there is a seeming contrariety. And as it requires Art and care to touch the several strings of an Instrument, that have different Sounds, so as from all may result one harmonious sound, so much more holy skill and care in a Christian to exercise these many various Graces, and perform so many divers Duties, in such a sweet concurrence and fellowship, that from all, there may result an uniform Holiness in the course of his life. The Christian must be Zealous, but leave room for Discretion, or else like a Ship that hath all Sail and no Ballast, he'll grow top heavy; he must fear to sin, and yet hope in the Mercy of God, when he hath sinned and repents of it; 'tis his duty to draw near to the Throne of Grace with an Holy boldness; but it ⟨p. 24⟩is his duty even then to preserve an Holy awe and reverence; he must be sensible of the hand of God when afflicted, or else he is not a Man; but then he must bear it patiently, or else he is not a Christian; he must be meek and lowly in his carriage to all, even the meanest, yet must keep an high courage and noble resolution, not to be turned out of the path of Duty for the frowns of the greatest; he must love his Brother but hate the sin he commits; how many such riddles are there in Religion? Now is it an easy work for the Christian to drive his Chariot in so narrow a path, without jostling one duty against another;

Thirdly, The difficulty the Christian finds to order his Conversation, so that his care for one part of his work may not hinder him in another. Now the reason of this difficulty, is the seeming contrariety of some duties to others: Seeming, I say, not real, indeed it is in Satans service only (not in Gods) that there is a real contrariety of work: Errors have their opposites; he that maintains one, cannot, if he understands himself, hold some others; so in Practical Lusts, some are at such a feud, that when one is in the Throne, the other is kept under, but all Truths agree lovingly together, being all but one Faith; and so do the Graces of a Christian, being all the effect of one and