6. Because the more diligent thou art,1 the less busy and operative will the motions of sin and suggestions of Satan be in thy Spirit. It is the speech of Bernard, 2By how much the more (saith he) the Devil finds a man well employed, by so much the less will he be able to fasten a temptation upon him. The more diligent the more industrious you are in heavens way, the less force will the temptation of the Devil have upon you. I remember it was the speech of Mr. Greenham, That when the Devil tempted a poor soul, she came to him for advice to resist the temptation, and he gave her this Answer: Never be idle, but be always well employed; for in my own experience I found this, When the Devil came to tempt me, I would tell the Devil, I am not at leisure to hearken to thy temptations: and by this means I did resist his assaults. Beloved, tell the Devil when he tempts you, you are not at leisure to lend an ear to his temptations, and then he will never fasten upon you. The Devil never gets advantage of us, but either when we are out of Gods way, or idle, or have our hands in some sinful employment; and then the Devil gets power over us. If once you slack in diligence, in this spiritual industry, you do even tempt the Devil to tempt you: you lay your selves open to a world of sin, and a world of snares. As you know it is with water, whilst the stream keeps running, it keeps clear; but let it stand still, it breeds frogs and toads, and all manner of filth. So while you keep going, you keep clear; but do but once flag in your diligence, and stand still, and O what a puddle ⟨p. 12⟩of filth and sin will thy heart be! The Keys that you keep in your pocket, and use every day, are bright; but keys seldom used, the very rust eats them out. So it is with your graces; not used with diligence, they will soon grow rusty, and decay; the less diligent you are, the more will sin and Satan fasten upon you. Heb. 6.12. We desire you, saith the Apostle, every one of you to show the same diligence: to what? that you be not slothful. As if he should say, if once you slack in diligence, the sin of slothfulness will soon grow upon you. Whereas now, the more diligent you are, the less busy and operative will the suggestions of Satan, and the operations of sin be in thy soul. While men sleep, the enemy came and sowed tears, Matth. 13.25.
6. Because the more diligent thou art,1 the lesse busie and operative will the motions of sin and suggestions of Satan be in thy Spirit. It is the speech of Bernard, 2By how much the more (saith he) the Devil findes a man well imployed, by somuch the lesse will he be able to fasten a temptation upon him. The more diligent the more industrious you are in heavens way, the lesse force will the temptation of the Devil have upon you. I remember it was the speech of Mr. Greenham, That when the Devil tempted a poor soul, she came to him for advice to resist the temptation, and he gave her this Answer: Never be idle, but be alwaies well imployed; for in my own experience I found this, When the Devil came to tempt me, I would tell the Devil, I am not at leisure to harken to thy temptations: and by this means I did resist his assaults. Beloved, tell the Devil when he tempts you, you are not at leisure to lend an eare to his temtations, and then he will never fasten upon you. The Devil never gets advantage of us, but either when we are out of Gods way, or idle, or have our hands in some sinful inployment; and then the Devil gets power over us. If once you slack in diligence, in this spiritual industry, you do even tempt the Devil to tempt you: you lay your selves open to a world of sin, and a world of snares. As you know it is with water, whilest the stream keeps running, it keeps clear; but let it stand still, it breeds frogs and toads, and all manner of filth. So while you keep going, you keep clear; but doe but once flag in your diligence, and stand still, and O what a puddle ⟨p. 12⟩of filth and sin will thy heart be! The Keys that you keep in your pocket, and use every day, are bright; but keys seldom used, the very rust eats them out. So it is with your graces; not used with diligence, they will soon grow rustie, and decay; the lesse diligent you are, the more will sin and Satan fasten upon you. Heb. 6.12. We desire you, saith the Apostle, every one of you to shew the same diligence: to what? that you be not slothful. As if he should say, if once you slack in diligence, the sin of slothfulnesse will soon grow upon you. Whereas now, the more deligent you are, the lesse busie and operative will the suggestions of Satan, and the operations of sin be in thy soul. While men sleep, the enemy came and sowed tears, Matth. 13.25.
- 1Reas. 6.
- 2Ut jugulent homines, surgunt de nocte latoones.Ʋt jugulent homines, surgunt de nocte latoones.
