Secondly, Diligence, in Opposition unto spiritual sloth, is included in it also. Diligence is the activity of the mind in the regular use of means, for the pursuit of any end proposed. The End aimed at by the soul, is a comforting refreshing interest in that forgiveness that is with God. For the attaining hereof, there are sundry means instituted and blessed of God. A neglect of them through regardlessness or sloth, will certainly disappoint the soul from attaining that end. It is confessedly so in things natural. He that soweth not, must not think to reap; he that clotheth not himself will not be warm; nor he enjoy health, who neglects the means of it. Men understand this as ⟨p. 367⟩to their outward concerns. And although they have a due respect unto the blessing of God, yet they expect not to be rich without industry in their ways. It is so also in things spiritual. God hath appointed one thing to be the means of obtaining another; in the use of them doth he bless us, and from the use of them doth his Glory arise, because they are his own appointments. And this diligence wholly respecteth practice, or the regular use of means. A man is said to be diligent in business, to have a diligent hand; though it be an Affection of the mind, yet it simply respects Practice and Operation. This diligence in his waiting David expresseth, Psal. 40. 1. [Greek or Hebrew]. We render it, I have waited patiently, that is, waiting I have waited, that is diligently, earnestly in the use of means. So he describes this duty by an elegant similitude, Psal. 123. 2. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their Masters; and as the eyes of a Maiden to the hand of her Mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until he have mercy on us. Servants that wait on their Masters, and look to their hands, it is to expect an intimation of their minds, as to what they would have them do, that they may address themselves unto it. So, saith he, do we wait for mercy; not in a slothful neglect of duties, but in a constant readiness to observe the Will of God in all his commands. An instance hereof we have in the Spouse, when she was in the condition here described, Cant. 3. 1, 2. She wanted the presence of her Beloved, which amounts to the same state which we have under consideration. For where the presence of Christ is not, there can be no sense of forgiveness.
Secondly, Diligence, in Opposition unto spiritual sloth, is included in it also. Diligence is the activity of the mind in the regular use of means, for the pursuit of any end proposed. The End aimed at by the soul, is a comforting refreshing interest in that forgiveness that is with God. For the attaining hereof, there are sundry means instituted and blessed of God. A neglect of them through regardlesness or sloth, will certainly disappoint the soul from attaining that end. It is confessedly so in things natural. He that soweth not, must not think to reap; he that cloatheth not himself will not be warm; nor he enjoy health, who neglects the means of it. Men understand this as ⟨p. 367⟩to their outward concerns. And although they have a due respect unto the blessing of God, yet they expect not to be rich without industry in their waies. It is so also in things spiritual. God hath appointed one thing to be the means of obtaining another; in the use of them doth he bless us, and from the use of them doth his Glory arise, because they are his own appointments. And this diligence wholly respecteth practice, or the regular use of means. A man is said to be diligent in business, to have a diligent hand; though it be an Affection of the mind, yet it simply respects Practice and Operation. This diligence in his waiting David expresseth, Psal. 40. 1. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. We render it, I have waited patiently, that is, waiting I have waited, that is diligently, earnestly in the use of means. So he describes this duty by an elegant similitude, Psal. 123. 2. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their Masters; and as the eyes of a Maiden to the hand of her Mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until he have mercy on us. Servants that wait on their Masters, and look to their hands, it is to expect an intimation of their minds, as to what they would have them do, that they may address themselves unto it. So, saith he, do we wait for mercy; not in a slothfull neglect of duties, but in a constant readiness to observe the Will of God in all his commands. An instance hereof we have in the Spouse, when she was in the condition here described, Cant. 3. 1, 2. She wanted the presence of her Beloved, which amounts to the same state which we have under consideration. For where the presence of Christ is not, there can be no sense of forgiveness.
