This shows how they are to blame that seek this strength least, or not at all for let us look upon men and we shall 1see, how busy they are to get riches and honour, or pleasure, but few, or none regard strength in the inward man, which is the health, beauty, strength and dignity of the soul: but for the health, beauty and strength and welfare of the outward man, they take great care and spend much time about them, and much labour to add any ⟨p. 45⟩thing unto that, but for the beauty of the inward man they care not, they respect it not; all their care is for their backs and bellies, still regarding the things that may advance their outward estates, but never mind the strengthening of the Inward man. If you ask them why they do not pray oftener, or hear or receive the Sacraments oftener, all which have strengthening virtue in them; to this they can answer, they cannot for business, they have great employments in the world which they cannot neglect, as if the Inward man were neither worth the looking after, nor the cherishing, and yet these men will be accounted as good men as the best, As for example: This day is appointed for the strengthening o• the inward man, but how do you neglect it? how often were you in prayer and holy meditation before? or how often since have you seriously considered on the things that you have heard? or how have you ca•t aside your occasions, of businesses in your callings? or are they not now fresh in your memories? nay do not your hearts run after them, even now when I am persuading you to the contrary? If they be, whatsoever you say of your selves, you have no care to grow strong in the inward man, your outward man carries away what should be laid out upon the inner.
This shewes how they are to blame that seek this strength least, or not at all for let us look upon men and we shall 1see, how busy they are to get riches and honour, or pleasure, but few, or none regard strength in the inward man, which is the health, beauty, strength and dignitie of the soul: but for the health, beauty and strength and wellfare of the outward man, they take great care and spend much time about them, and much labour to adde any ⟨p. 45⟩thing unto that, but for the beauty of the inward man they care not, they respect it not; all their care is for their backs and bellies, still regarding the things that may advance their outward estates, but never mind the strengthning of the Inward man. If you ask them why they do not pray oftener, or hear or receive the Sacraments oftner, all which have strengthening vertue in them; to this they can answer, they cannot for business, they have great imployments in the world which they cannot neglect, as if the Inward man were neither worth the looking after, nor the cherishing, and yet these men will be accounted as good men as the best, As for example: This day is appointed for the strengthening o• the inward man, but how do you neglect it? how often were you in prayer and holy meditation before? or how often since have you seriously considered on the things that you have heard? or how have you ca•t aside your occasions, of businesses in your callings? or are they not now fresh in your memories? nay do not your hearts run after them, even now when I am perswading you to the contrary? If they be, whatsoever you say of your selves, you have no care to grow strong in the inward man, your outward man carries away what should be laid out upon the inner.
- 1Use. 1.
