Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

The second means to be used, if you would grow strong in the inward man is this: you must be diligent in the use of all means, as the wise man saith, The hand of the diligent maketh rich: so where there is much diligence in the use of the means of grace, there is much strength in the inward man: no men get spiritual strength, but they that are diligent, And therefore this is the reason that men are not strong in the spiritual strength, because like the sluggard you are not diligent in the use of the means. That is, you take no pains for grace, and therefore it is that you get no increase. for according to the proportion of your pains, so is the inward man strengthened, And as you use them more diligently, so you find the strength of them more operative and powerful: for it is in the soul as it is with the body: If you be not diligent and careful to feed the body, it will wither and consume away, and grow weak, so if you feed not the soul diligently, and use the means constantly, you will breed weakness in the soul, and the more remiss and secure you are in the performance of holy duties, the weaker you are.

The second means to be used, if you would grow strong in the inward man is this: you must be diligent in the use of all means, as the wise man saith, The hand of the diligent maketh rich: so where there is much diligence in the use of the means of grace, there is much strength in the inward man: no men get spiritual strength, but they that are diligent, And therefore this is the reason that men are not strong in the spiritual strength, because like the sluggard you are not diligent in the use of the means. That is, you take no pains for grace, and therefore it is that you get no increase. for according to the proportion of your pains, so is the inward man strengthened, And as you use them more diligently, so you find the strength of them more operative and powerful: for it is in the soul as it is with the body: If you be not diligent and careful to feed the body, it will wither and consume away, and grow weak, so if you feed not the soul diligently, and use the means constantly, you will breed weakness in the soul, and the more remisse and secure you are in the performance of holy duties, the weaker you are.

It may be you think it will not weaken you to omit private prayer: but omit it once, and it will make you careless, and the more you neglect it, the more unfit and undisposed will you find your selves when you would, and your strength will abate. Or you think you may profane one Sabbath, or you may take your pleasure immoderately sometimes: but beloved it will make you secure, That is the more a man doth in this kind the more he may do, For this is true in every act; every act inclines a habit, and a habit brings custom: so it is as true in good things, the beginning of good things brings many particular good things, And therefore if you can but get your hearts in a frame of grace, you shall find a supply of grace: because Christ saith, unto whom soever hath unto him shall be given; That is, he that hath grace, & is careful in the use of the means, by Gods appointment he shall thrive in