Therefore we see how unreasonably this is, often, said, We are unwilling to change states, because we are unassured; the truth is, they are unassured, ⟨p. 157⟩because they are unwilling; and what then ensues? They are unwilling because they are unwilling. And so they may endlessly dispute themselves round, from unwillingness to unwillingness. But is there no way to get out of this unhappy Circle? In order to it, let the case be more fully understood; Either this double unwillingness must be referred to the same thing, or to divers: If to the same thing, it is not sense; they say what signifies nothing: For, being to assign a cause of their unwillingness to quit the body, to say, because they are unwilling, (viz. of that) is to assign no cause, for nothing can be the cause of it self. But if they refer to divers things, and say, They are unwilling to go out of the body, because they are unwilling to forsake Earth for Heaven; The case is then plain, but sad, and not alterable, but with the alteration of the temper of their spirits. Wherefore let us all apply our selves (since with none this is so fully done, that no more is needful) to ⟨p. 158⟩the serious endeavour of getting our souls purged from the dross of this world, and enamoured of the purity and blessedness of Heaven, so the cause and effect will vanish together; we shall find that suitableness and inclination in our spirits to that blessedness, as may yield us the ground of a comfortable persuasion that it belongs to us us; and then, not be unwilling, though many deaths stood in our way, to break through to attain it.
Therefore we see how unreasonably this is, often, said, We are unwilling to change states, because we are unassured; the truth is, they are unassured, ⟨p. 157⟩because they are unwilling; and what then ensues? They are unwilling because they are unwilling. And so they may endlesly dispute themselves round, from unwillingness to unwillingness. But is there no way to get out of this unhappy Circle? In order to it, let the case be more fully understood; Either this double unwillingness must be refer'd to the same thing, or to divers: If to the same thing, it is not sense; they say what signifies nothing: For, being to assign a cause of their unwillingness to quit the body, to say, because they are unwilling, (viz. of that) is to assign no cause, for nothing can be the cause of it self. But if they refer to divers things, and say, They are unwilling to go out of the body, because they are unwilling to forsake Earth for Heaven; The case is then plain, but sad, and not alterable, but with the alteration of the temper of their spirits. Wherefore let us all apply our selves (since with none this is so fully done, that no more is needful) to ⟨p. 158⟩the serious endeavour of getting our souls purged from the dross of this world, and enamoured of the purity and blessedness of Heaven, so the cause and effect will vanish together; we shall find that suitableness and inclination in our spirits to that blessedness, as may yeild us the ground of a comfortable perswasion that it belongs to us us; and then, not be unwilling, though many deaths stood in our way, to break through to attain it.
