First, It makes advantage of its weariness unto the flesh. There is an Aversation, as hath been declared in the Law of Sin unto all immediate communion with God. Now this duty is such. There ⟨p. 131⟩is nothing accompanieth it whereby the carnal part of the soul may be gratified, or satisfied, as there may be somewhat of that nature in most public duties, in most that a man can do, beyond pure acts of faith and love. No relief or advantage then coming in by it, but what is purely spiritual, it becomes wearisome, burdensome to flesh and blood. It is like travelling alone without Companion or diversion, which makes the way seem long, but brings the Passenger with most speed to his journeys end. So our Saviour declares, when expecting his Disciples according to their duty and present distress should have been engaged in this work, he found them fast asleep, Matth. 26. 41. The Spirit, saith he, indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak: And out of that weakness grew their indisposition unto, and weariness of their Duty. So God complains of his People, Isa. 43. 22. Thou hast been weary of me. And it may come at length unto that height which is mentioned, Mal. 1. 13. Ye have said, behold what a weariness is it, and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of Hosts. The Jews suppose that it was the language of men when they brought their Offerings or Sacrifices on their shoulders, which they pretended wearied them, and they panted and blowed as men ready to faint under them, when they brought only the torn, and the lame, and the sick. But so is this duty oftentimes to the flesh. And this the deceitfulness of sin makes use of, to draw the heart by insensible degrees from a constant attendance unto it. It puts in for the relief of the weak and weary flesh. There is a ⟨p. 132⟩compliance between spiritual flesh, and natural flesh in this matter; they help one another, and an aversation unto this duty is the effect of their compliance. So it was in the Spouse, Cant. 5. 2, 3. She was asleep drowsing in her spiritual condition, and pleads her natural unfitness to rouse her self from that state.
First, It makes advantage of its weariness unto the flesh. There is an Aversation, as hath been declared in the Law of Sin unto all immediate communion with God. Now this duty is such. There ⟨p. 131⟩is nothing accompanieth it whereby the carnal part of the soul may be gratified, or satisfied, as there may be somewhat of that nature in most publick duties, in most that a man can do, beyond pure acts of faith and love. No relief or advantage then coming in by it, but what is purely spiritual, it becomes wearisome, burdensome to flesh and blood. It is like travelling alone without Companion or diversion, which makes the way seem long, but brings the Passenger with most speed to his journeys end. So our Saviour declares, when expecting his Disciples according to their duty and present distress should have been engaged in this work, he found them fast asleep, Matth. 26. 41. The Spirit, saith he, indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak: And out of that weakness grew their indisposition unto, and weariness of their Duty. So God complains of his People, Isa. 43. 22. Thou hast been weary of me. And it may come at length unto that height which is mentioned, Mal. 1. 13. Ye have said, behold what a weariness is it, and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of Hosts. The Jews suppose that it was the language of men when they brought their Offerings or Sacrifices on their shoulders, which they pretended wearyed them, and they panted and blowed as men ready to faint under them, when they brought only the torn, and the lame, and the sick. But so is this duty oftentimes to the flesh. And this the deceitfulness of sin makes use of, to draw the heart by insensible degrees from a constant attendance unto it. It puts in for the relief of the weak and weary flesh. There is a ⟨p. 132⟩complyance between spiritual flesh, and natural flesh in this matter; they help one another, and an aversation unto this duty is the effect of their complyance. So it was in the Spouse, Cant. 5. 2, 3. She was asleep drowsing in her spiritual condition, and pleads her natural unfitness to rouse her self from that state.
