Secondly, Mortification prunes all the Graces of God, and makes room for them in our hearts, to grow. The Life and Vigour of our spiritual Lives consists in the vigour and flourishing of the Plants of Grace in our Hearts. Now as you may see in a Garden, let there be a precious herb planted, and let the Ground be untilled, and weeds grow about it, perhaps it will live still, but be a poor withering, unuseful thing; you must look and search for it, and sometimes can scarce find it; and when you do, you can scarce know it, whether it be the Plant you look for or no; and suppose it be; you can make no use of it at all: when let another of the same kind be set in ground, naturally as barren and bad as the other; but let it be well weeded, and every thing that i• noxious and hurtful removed from it, it flourishes and thrives; you may see it at first look into the Garden, and have it for your use when you please. So it is with the Graces of the Spirit that are planted in our hearts: That is true; they are still▪ they abide in a heart where there is some Neglect of Mortification, but ⟨p. 42⟩they are ready to dye; Revel. 3.2. they are withering and decaying. The heart is like the Sluggards Field, so over-grown with weeds, that you can scarce see the good Corn. Such a man may search for Faith, Love and Zeal, and scarce be able to find any; and if he do discover that these Graces are there, yet alive, and sincere; yet they are so weak, so clogged with Lusts, that they are of very little use; they remain indeed, •ut are ready to dye. But now let the Heart be cleansed by Mortification, the Weeds of Lust constantly and daily rooted up, (as they spring daily, Nature being their proper soil,) let Room be made for Grace to thrive and flourish; how will every Grace act its part, and be ready for every use and purpose!
Secondly, Mortification prunes all the Graces of God, and makes room for them in our hearts, to grow. The Life and Vigour of our spiritual Lives consists in the vigour and flourishing of the Plants of Grace in our Hearts. Now as you may see in a Garden, let there be a precious herb planted, and let the Ground be untilled, and weeds grow about it, perhaps it will live still, but be a poor withering, unusefull thing; you must look and search for it, and sometimes can scarce find it; and when you do, you can scarce know it, whether it be the Plant you look for or no; and suppose it be; you can make no use of it at all: when let another of the same kind be set in ground, naturally as barren and bad as the other; but let it be well weeded, and every thing that i• noxious and hurtfull removed from it, it flourishes and thrives; you may see it at first look into the Garden, and have it for your use when you please. So it is with the Graces of the Spirit that are planted in our hearts: That is true; they are still▪ they abide in a heart where there is some Negl•ct of Mortification, but ⟨p. 42⟩they are ready to dye; Revel. 3.2. they are withering and decaying. The heart is like the Sluggards Field, so over-grown with weeds, that you can scarce see the good Corn. Such a man may search for Faith, Love and Zeal, and scarce be able to find any; and if he do discover that these Graces are there, yet alive, and sincere; yet they are so weak, so clogged with Lusts, that they are of very little use; they remain indeed, •ut are ready to dye. But now let the Heart be cleansed by Mortification, the Weeds of Lust constantly and daily rooted up, (as they spring daily, Nature being their proper soyl,) let Room be made for Grace to thrive and flourish; how will every Grace act its part, and be ready for every use and purpose!
