Certain select cases resolved specially tending to the right ordering of the heart, that…

2. That to the increase of those habits, and ⟨p. 43⟩drawing out the acts of the new creature, the Lord is pleased to use moral and rational persuasions; as in the instance you gave, Christ died for us, then hence the love of Christ constrains: but remember withal, It is not the bare meditation, or strength of reason or persuasion, that elicits such divine and noble acts in the heart and affection, but it is the blood of Christ sprinkling these serious meditations, that makes them work such graces in the Soul; which I might show at large: which blood is the salve, though argumentation is the cloth or leather to which it sticks, and by which it is applied; but from such leather comes no virtue, all of it is from the blood of christ, which by argumentation heals the Soul. For if it were nakedly in the argumentation to stir your heart, and to work strength of grace, what should be the reason that some times you are no more moved by all your argumentations, then a mountain of brass is by the winds? why should the same truth affect you at one time, and not at another, when you are as fitly disposed to be affected as at the first? Therefore consider it is not your reason and argumentation, but Christs blood that doth all, by as admirable, and yet secret operation.

2. That to the increase of those habits, and ⟨p. 43⟩drawing out the acts of the new creature, the Lord is pleased to use morall and rationall perswasions; as in the instance you gave, Christ died for us, then hence the love of Christ constraines: but remember withall, It is not the bare meditation, or strength of reason or perswasion, that elicits such divine and noble acts in the heart and affection, but it is the blood of Christ sprinkling these serious meditations, that makes them worke such graces in the Soule; which I might shew at large: which blood is the salve, though argumentation is the cloth or leather to which it sticks, and by which it is applied; but from such leather comes no vertue, all of it is from the blood of christ, which by argumentation heales the Soule. For if it were nakedly in the argumentation to stir your heart, and to worke strength of grace, what should be the reason that some times you are no more moved by all your argumentations, then a mountaine of brasse is by the windes? why should the same truth affect you at one time, and not at another, when you are as fitly dispoto be affected as at the first? Therefore consider it is not your reason and argumentation, but Christs blood that doth all, by as admirable, and yet secret operation.