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

As we see a fountain may be stopped up with mud, or dirt, or stones, or any thing, remove these, and the fountain is open, and when it is open, it is ready to flow out. So then there must be a removing the impediments: let every man see what it is that hinders him, when there is a fountain of grace, when it flows not out readily. If a man be not ready to good works, there is some impediment that must be removed.

But that is not enough to use our selves, and fashion our hearts to them, and to remove the impediments; But ¹thirdly, there is a work of the Holy Ghost he must act, and stir us up: there is a certain work of the Spirit that must help us upon all occasions. For even as you see in Trees; there may be sap enough in a Tree, yet till the ²Spring-time come, till the heat of the Sun come, till moisture come, that sap is not drawn up to the branches, and so long it brings not forth fruit nor leaves. So a man may have much grace in his heart, much habitual grace; but unless this be brought forth more immediately to act, there is no fruit brought forth. Now what is it that brings it near the branches? Why, that which makes ⟨p. 222⟩the spring-time of good actions, and fills a man with the fruits of righteousness, it is the holy Ghost that is the moisture, and the Sun, and the rain that moistens and quickens us. There must be a certain action of the spirit I say, to help us to do every good work; we must seek to the Lord for this: Lord I have such a business to do, I confess I am unapt and indisposed to it, I beseech thee help to quicken me by thy spirit.

But that is not enough to use our selves, and fashion our hearts to them, and to remove the impediments; But ¹thirdly, there is a work of the Holy Ghost he must act, and stir us up: there is a certain work of the Spirit that must help us upon all occasions. For even as you see in Trees; there may be sap enough in a Tree, yet till the