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

The second hinderance which must be removed, that is contrary to the growth of the inward man is strong lusts, that is, unmortified affections. There are inward hinderances, which must be removed before the soul can grow strong in grace, these venom the soul, and keep off the stroke of the sword; That is, It keeps the plaster from the sore, As for example if a man be wounded with an arrow, so long as the arrows head is in the wound no plaster will heal it. Now as it is thus in the outward man, so it is with the inward man: if you retain any lust, that is any beloved sin, and so come unto the ordinances of God: you will come without profit, because the arrow head is yet in the wound, that is your lusts are unmortified, and so long you cannot be healed: this keeps the plaster off the sore. You know what pains the humours of the body will breed in a man when they gather into any part of the body, and how they will hinder the augmentation in other parts: so when these evil humours of the soul, gather together, and begin to r•i•n, and bear rule in the soul, it is impossible that the soul should grow in holiness till they be purged away. Therefore be earnest with God to purge out those humours: whether they be profit or pleasure, or honour, or any thing, and in this doing you strengthen the inward man: and the stronger the inward man is the healthfuller the soul is. I say it is impossible you should thrive in the inward man so long as you retain any sin, and therefore our Saviour saith: how can you believe seeing you seek honour one of another? That is if you prefer, the love of profit and reputation, and credit in the world before grace, how can you believe? that is how can you be strong in the inward man?

The second hinderance which must be removed, that is contrary to the growth of the inward man is strong lusts, that is, unmortified affections. There are inward hinderances, which must be removed before the soul can grow strong in grace, these venome the soul, and keep off the stroak of the sword; That is, It keepes the plaster from the sore, As for example if a man be wounded with an arrow, so long as the arrowes head is in the wound no plaster will heal it. Now as it is thus in the outward man, so it is with the inward man: if you retain any lust, that is any beloved sin, and so come unto the ordinances of God: you will come without profit, because the arrow head is yet in the wound, that is your lusts are unmortified, and so long you cannot be healed: this keepes the plaster off the sore. You know what pains the humors of the body will breed in a man when they gather into any part of the body, and how they will hinder the augmentation in other parts: so when these evil humours of the soul, gather together, and begin to rin, and bear rule in the soul, it is impossible that the soul should grow in holiness till they be purged away. Therefore be earnest with God to purge out those humours: whether they be profit or pleasure, or honour, or any thing, and in this doing you strengthen the inward man: and the stronger the inward man is the healthfuller the soul is. I say it is impossible you should thrive in the inward man so long as you retain any sin, and therefore our Saviour saith: how can you believe seeing you seek honour one of another? That is if you prefer, the love of profit and reputation, and credit in the world before grace, how can you believe? that is how can you be strong in the inward man?