The zealous Christian taking heavenThe zealovs Christian taking heaven

7 This reproves those who were once violent and zealous in religion, but now their zeal is abated. We have a proverb: Nothing that is violent is durable; if the violent motion proceeds from some external ¹artificial cause, and not from a rooted stirring principle within Many that go in the ways of God merely from an external principle, it may be credit or profit, though they may be seemingly violent for a time, yet their violence will not last, they will not be steadfast in the ways of religion ⟨p. 22⟩and in a Christian course. Some who have flourished in the Spring have had a withering time, their fruit decayed as the leaves fall off in Autumn. It may be said of many in regard of their souls, as it was said of David in regard of his body: When he was old and stricken in years, they covered him with clothes, and he gat no heat, 1 King. 1. 1. Many, ²though they are plied with ordinances, can get no heat in them. Augustine observes it of many in his days, that would at their first conversion pray frequently & live holily, but after a while they would grow more remiss, and pray more coldly and slightly then they did before. There are few of whom after a long profession of religion it can be said, as was said of Moses, Deut. 34. 7. His eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. Many are like Asa, their ³end is worse then their beginning.

7 This reproves those who were once violent and zealous in religion, but now their zeal is abated. We have a proverb: Nothing that is violent is durable; if the violent motion proceeds from some externall ¹artificiall cause, and not from a rooted stirring principle within Many that go in the wayes of God meerly from an externall principle, it may be credit or profit, though they may be seemingly violent for a time, yet their violence will not last, they will not be stedfast in the wayes of religion