A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm

but must come to it, or be contented to spend all your days in darkness, and to lye down in sorrow. Thus do men frequently miscarry; Is it any news for persons to bewail the folly of their nature and ways in the Morning and Evening, and yet scarce stand upon their watch any part of the day, or in any occasion of the day? Is this giving all diligence? Is this working out our Salvation with fear and trembling? And may we not see Professors, even indulging to themselves in ways of Vanity, folly, wrath, envy, sloth and the like, and yet complain at what a loss they are, how unquiet, how uncertain. God forbid it should be otherwise with you; or that we should endeavour to speak peace unto you in any such a frame. To hear of a person, that he walks slothfully, carelessly, or indulgeth his corruptions, and to find him complaining that he is at loss whether he have any interest in Pardon or no, to give or tender Comfort to such mourners without a due Admonition of their duty to use diligence in the use of means, for to help on their delivery out of the condition wherein they are, is to tender poison unto them. To this then the soul must come that is in depths, if it intend to be delivered. Heartless complaints, with excuses to keep it from vigorous spiritual diligence must be laid aside; if not, ordinarily, Peace, Rest, and stability will not be obtained. A great Example hereof we have in the Spouse, Cant. 5. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. She is drowsy and indisposed unto communion with Christ, whereunto she is invited, v. 2. this puts her upon making excuses from the unfitness of the time, and her present indisposition and unpreparedness as to the duty whereunto she was called, v. 3. Hereupon Christ withdraws his presence from her, and leaves her at a loss as to her former comforts, v. 6. what course doth she now take; doth she now lye down again in her former Slumber? doth she make use of her former excuses and pretences, why she could not engage into the duties she was called unto? no such thing! but now ⟨p. 314⟩with all Earnestness, Diligence, Sedulity and Importunity, She engageth in all manner of duties, whereby she may recover her former Comforts, as you may see in the Text. And this must be the course of others, who would obtain the same success. Spiritual peace and sloth will never dwell together in the same soul and Conscience. RULE IX. The ninth Rule.

but must come to it, or be contented to spend all your dayes in darkness, and to lye down in sorrow. Thus do men frequently miscarry; Is it any news for persons to bewail the folly of their nature and wayes in the Morning and Evening, and yet scarce stand upon their watch any part of the day, or in any occasion of the day? Is this giving all diligence? Is this working out our Salvation with fear and trembling? And may we not see Professors, even indulging to themselves in wayes of Vanity, folly, wrath, envy, sloth and the like, and yet complain at what a loss they are, how unquiet, how uncertain. God forbid it should be otherwise with you; or that we should endeavour to speak peace unto you in any such a frame. To hear of a person, that he walks slothfully, carelesly, or indulgeth his corruptions, and to find him complaining that he is at loss whether he have any interest in Pardon or noe, to give or tender Comfort to such mourners without a due Admonition of their duty to use diligence in the use of means, for to help on their delivery out of the condition wherein they are, is to tender poison unto them. To this then the soul must come that is in depths, if it intend to be delivered. Heartless complaints, with excuses to keep it from vigorous spiritual diligence must be laid aside; if not, ordinarily, Peace, Rest, and stability will not be obtained. A great Example hereof we have in the Spouse,