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

The first Rule that I would have you observe, if you would have the means effectual, is this: you must use all ¹the means. If you use but part of the means you will not grow strong: for as it is with the body so it is with the inward man; for the health and growth of the body a man will use all means, labour and recreation. In health, for the whetting of the faculty; Physic in sickness. In a word he will use every thing that he may strengthen the body. Thus you must do for the strengthening of the inward man, you must use all means, As hearing of the word, receiving the Sacrament, prayer, Meditation, conference, Communion of Saints, particular resolutions to good, or else the inward man will not grow strong; These are the food that the inward man feeds on: It is with the inward man as it is with a plant: If you would have a plant to grow, then you must set it in a good soil, you must dig about it and dung it and water it; but if you be careless where you set it, it will not prosper and thrive: even so if you do not add fatness of soil to the beginning of grace, That is if you do not use all the means, As the Communion of Saints, and prayer, and hearing of the word; the inward man will not grow strong, but wither and die that is you will be dwarfs in grace and holiness.

The first Rule that I would have you observe, if you would have the means effectual, is this: you must use all ¹the means. If you use but part of the means you will not grow strong: for as it is with the body so it is with the inward man; for the health and growth of the body a man will use all means, labour and recreation. In health, for the whetting of the facultie; Physick in sickness. In a word he will use every thing that he may strengthen the body. Thus you must do for the strengthening of the inward man, you must use all means, As hearing of the word, receiving the Sacrament, prayer, Meditation, conference, Communion of Saints, particular resolutions to good, or else the inward man will not grow strong; These are the food that the inward man feeds on: It is wîth the inward man as it is with a plant: If you would have a plant to grow, then you must set it in a good soil, you must dig about it and dung it and water it; but if you be careless where you set it, it will not prosper and thrive: even so if you do not add fatness of soil to the beginning of grace, That is if you do not use all the meanes, As the Communion of Saints, and prayer, and hearing of the word; the inward man will not grow strong, but wither and die that is you will be dwares in grace and holines.